ILOILO CITY — The province of Guimaras underscored messages of hope, awareness, and call to action to mark the World Suicide Prevention Day observance on September 10, 2024.
The event, in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) Center for Health Development- Western Visayas, was anchored on the theme Changing the Narrative on Suicide”.
Governor JC Rahman A. Nava, in his message, emphasized the importance of being resilient during adversities and learning to accept that everything has its own timing.
“Just continue to move on and move forward sa inyo pagpangabuhi kag importante nga you just try to do your best. Kay tungod indi tanan nga bagay reachable sa dalayun, may mga good things nga matabo. This is the one thing that we should emphasize in life ‘cause we know nga indi sa tanan nga panahon imo but in time may para gid sa inyo,” Gov. Nava said.
(Just continue to move on and move forward with your daily living and equally important, you just try to do your best. Not all things are reachable anytime. This is the one thing that we should emphasize in life ‘cause we know not all the time is always yours but in time there is something for you.)
The event is a reminder of the critical need to address mental health issues and problems in the province according to Executive Assistant III Gerardo Gaitan.
“It is very important nga ma-remind kita sang critical need to address sang mental health issues and problems. So, with this event kabay pa nga ma-lessen ang number of records sang suicide diri sa probinsya sang Guimaras,” Gaitan said.
Data from the Provincial Health Office indicated that the province has recorded five cases of suicide for this year.
Meanwhile, part of the highlights of the event was the mural painting contest among Sangguniang Kabataan officials from the five municipalities in the province.
San Lorenzo town was declared as winner while Buenavista was first runner-up followed by Sibunag. The painting contest emphasized the theme on suicide awareness.
A forum about mental health was also conducted which was participated by SK officials, barangay health workers, and rural health unit personnel.
The observance of the aims to raise awareness about suicide and promote actions that can prevent it.
Established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO), the annual World Suicide Prevention Day encouraged individuals, communities, and organizations to take steps to reduce the stigma around mental health and start conversations about suicide. (AAL/LMLE/PIA Iloilo/*With reports from Guimaras PIO)
