CV second highest in youth who thought of killing selves

CEBU, Philippines - Central Visayas ranked second among the regions in the country in terms of the number of youth who contemplated on committing suicide.

This was the finding of a survey by the University of the Philippines Population Institute  – Demographic Research and Development Foundation  made in 2013 as part of its Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality  study series.

According to the study, 12.4 percent of all Filipino youth who thought of killing themselves came from Central Visayas. The CARAGA Region ranked highest with 13.8 percent; Region XI, third with 12.3 percent; and region X, fourth with 11.3 percent. The National Capital Region had 10.9 percent.

The 12.4 percent figure, however, shows there was a steep decline in the number, as it stood at 18.1 percent in 2002. YAFS did its surveys in 1982, 1994, 2002. Result of the latest survey, which was done in 2013, was released last year.

UPPI-DRDF also said the same trend was observed nationwide, with 8.7 percent in 2013 compared to 13.4 in 2002.

Also, the same survey showed that only a few in Central Visayas “ever attempted suicide.” 

UPPI said that 3.2 percent of suicide attempts in the country happened in Region 7, which is a “slight decline” compared to 3.5 percent in 2002. At 5.6 percent, the most number of suicide attempts was in NCR, followed by Regions 10 (4.2 percent) and 6 (4 percent).

For the latest survey, YAFS interviewed 19,178 youth respondents characterized as either male or female, single or married, and of all religions.

Of the 19,178 respondents, 1,037 were from Central Visayas.  (FREEMAN)