“Sixty-seven recorded deaths due to suicide in the province of Iloilo for the past 9 months.” This Iloilo police data is quite alarming for the Ilonggos, particularly among policymakers and government health program implementers. It was also noted that out of the 67 cases, 22 victims were quite young, aging between 10 to 19 years old.

Of course, our provincial government responded immediately by discussing what are the social welfare programs that can possibly help the youths to prevent them from committing suicides. There are also the advocacy activities to promote health and mind wellness, emergency hotlines, mental health awareness programs, and even the creation of Mental Health Board.

I am neither a psychologist nor a psychiatrist. but seriously, does anyone really know, what pushes a person, young or old, to commit suicide? Once a suicide case is heard, people tend to assume that causes can be heartaches, drugs, depression, mental illness, not living up to the expectations of family, and so on and so forth.

As spectator or mere reader of news, we have a long list of assumptions on the possible causes of suicide. Yet, the mystery of the true cause continues for we cannot ask anymore the dead person why he or she committed such act.

Then family members or investigators will search for the suicide note to resolve the mystery.

They say, that the line between sanity and insanity is only a hairline but suicide cases happen not as a spur of the moment idea. Personally, I believe, it takes processing and even careful planning of an individual on how they will do it, where to do it, and when to do it.

The answer to the “why” part of the suicide act is often expressed in a suicide note, if, there is a note. If not, then it was also part of the plan not to leave a note.

I happen to know someone who committed suicide, and bless her soul, until now I cannot forget the manner on how she did it. There is a certain creative safety conditioning that she has to set among her friends, family, peers and students so that no one will suspects that something was “wrong” with her or that she was going through a certain level of depression. She puts a very happy façade and then shocked us by jumping from the third floor of the school building leaving behind one stem of red rose and a pair of her black shoes at the third floor balcony.

Some of those who knew her said, that maybe she was living in a too perfect and happy world that she cannot stand a single mistake in her life. There are those who said she was heartbroken due to the picture of a man that was discovered between her hands.

No one knew the truth behind the suicide, but I have witnessed the grief of the parents who lost their daughter and who cannot even forgive themselves for not knowing what was going on with their daughter.

Another unforgettable suicide case that shocked the world was the one committed by Razorback drummer who even had the courage to air it live on Facebook.

With the too many things that are happening around us, from home to school, to work, to hanging out with friends, to reading newsfeed on various social media platforms, to simply eating your favorite ice cream or to singing your favorite song in the videoke bar, the big question remains, “how do we keep ourselves sane?”

In the words of the famous “Girl, Interrupted” Susanna Kaysen, “sometimes the only way to stay sane is to go a little crazy”. Like, laughing big and loud to things that make you happy. Crying your heart out to things that caused you pain. Shaving your head bald because you are bored with having a long hair. Eating the foulest food because your friends said its delicious. Join the Amazing Race so you can prove to the world that you have the crazy guts to do it.

Too many crazy and fun things to do to stay sane but never, ever, dare to commit suicide.

Bottom line is no matter what health programs, how much budget the government will spend, or how many mental health awareness projects to implement, the choice and decision to stay alive remains in “you”.

Next thing to look into is the value system within our family or home. Family is a basic unit of the society and it is our primary source of moral support. Thus, good value system should emanate from our home to raise emotionally and intellectually strong and better individuals for our country.

Filipinos are known in the world as a “happy and loving” race but we need also to brace ourselves to the global changes that affects the value system of a happy Filipino family.

Amid the many chaos that is happening in our world, there are still a lot of meaningful and worthy reasons to live. As they say, life is beautiful, and indeed, it is still beautiful. So, let us spread the positive thoughts and celebrate life, every breathing second of it.#