ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA) –The Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 and the Capiz Provincial Health Office (PHO) promote ethical and responsible reporting and portrayal of suicide cases to the media practitioners and social media influencers in the province in light of the World Suicide Prevention Day.
DOH 6 Chief Local Health System Division Dr. Mary Ann Sta. Lucia discussed DOH Administrative Order (AO) No. 2022-0004, guidelines for ethical and responsible reporting and portrayal of suicide in the media, audiovisual, and films.
Sta. Lucia also said that the objective of the AO is to reduce the incidents of suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and deaths by suicide in the country through responsible and ethical reporting and proper handling of suicide events and cases.
“According to the data from the World Health Organization, suicide was the fourth leading cause of death in young people aged 15 to 29 years for both sexes,” she added, as she also said that irresponsible reporting can lead to copycat suicide incidents.
“All of you could help us in suicide prevention through responsible reporting,” Sta. Lucia noted.
Capiz Provincial Health Officer II Dr. Ramon Alex Nolasco said that there is an increasing number of suicide cases in the province.
“The province of Capiz is doing everything along with the DOH as they have provided us an amount which will cover the healthy communities strategy as well as addressing the mental health problems and of course our suicide cases,” he added.
Nolasco also expressed his hope that the lecture by Sta. Lucia could provide valuable insights and ideas to the media and other stakeholders of the PHO on how to effectively address mental health issues and suicide cases in the province.
Further, Capiz Provincial Health Officer I Leah Del Rosario assured the media and other stakeholders that all Rural Health Units in the province are equipped to handle mental health conditions and suicide cases.
In addition, Psychiatrist Dr. Leah Sicad stated that Capizeños undergoing mental health conditions may visit her office at the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital (RMPH) outpatient department in Brgy. Lanot, Roxas City every Tuesday from 2:00 to 3:00 PM for a free consultation. (AGP/PLF/PIA Capiz)
