Mental health stakeholders convene to craft suicide prevention action plan

 

The City Health Services Office (CHSO) Mental Health Unit brought together representatives from academia, hospitals, barangay councils, and health practitioners is currently on an urgent dialogue-workshop aimed at developing a suicide prevention action plan within the day.

This initiative follows an emergency meeting called by Mayor Benjamin Magalong due to a rising trend of suicide in the city.

“We want to understand the practices of each institution, compile this information, and use it to create an effective plan that barangays can implement to prevent further cases, identify and support current cases, and provide postvention services,” explained Ricky Ducas Jr., Program Manager of the CHSO Mental Health and Wellness Unit.

He added that the workshop will also include a context based suicide prevention action plan for academe, workplace and community.

As of May 2025, the city has recorded 19 deaths by suicide, compared to a total of 24 cases from the previous year. Mr. Ducas expressed that these statistics are alarming, as we are not yet halfway through the year, and current cases are nearing last year’s total.

Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, City Health Officer, calls all students, employees, and senior citizens to seek help. The CHSO is always open to providing psychosocial support for all ages. If you simply want to talk, we are here to listen. The CHSO Mental Health and Wellness services is located on the 2nd floor of the CHSO Annex Building, Teodora Alonzo Street. (KJD Pagada)