MEDIA professionals play a crucial role in preventing suicide contagion and must report such cases responsibly, said Julie May Maisog Robles, head nurse at the House of Hope Foundation Inc., a custodial psychiatric facility managed by the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.
“There is what we call copycat suicides, where people who are already vulnerable to suicide attempts tend to copy what they read, hear, or see in the media, even on social media,” Robles said during the ‘Meet the Press’ hosted by the Cagayan de Oro Press Club.
Robles urged journalists not to focus on the method used in suicide incidents.
“Please don’t focus on the details of how the person committed suicide, because once someone who’s very depressed reads or watches the news, there’s a possibility that person will think it’s easy to end his life,” she said.
She cited research showing that every second, someone around the world attempts suicide.
“At the moment, we’ll never know, we’re here having this conference, and there’s someone (across the globe) who wants to commit suicide,” she said.
Instead, Robles encouraged the media to highlight stories of recovery and hope.
“Please focus on how there’s hope and ways to get back up,” she said.
She noted that while mental health awareness remains limited in the Philippines, more psychiatrists are coming to Cagayan de Oro, helping reduce the stigma.
“Even after a mental health diagnosis, you’ll still have hope, and can continue to move forward living your daily lives,” Robles said.
Currently, the House of Hope facility cares for 55 patients, most of them women in the psychiatric department.
Monsignor Eutiquiano ‘Tex’ Legitimas of the Archdiocese said that while many face challenges such as poverty and disability, “we give special care to people who have special needs.”
“We need to choose to be kind. In our kindness, we can give hope to others,” Robles added.
Suicide cases are reportedly increasing in the city, with younger people being more vulnerable.
When asked, Robles said the House of Hope only accepts patients with a clinical diagnosis and does not have preventive intervention programs for individuals before diagnosis.
“The patient must first go to a psychiatrist for evaluation and recommendation before admission,” she said, noting that interventions begin once the patient is admitted.
