After UP freshman's suicide, depressed Pinoys urged to seek professional help

A single thing can be the trigger, but it's really "a confluence of factors" that drives people to commit suicide, a psychiatrist said Monday, amid calls for reform in the education system following the death of UP freshman Kristel Tejada.

 

"Most likely may nag-trigger nitong suicide nitong pinag-uusapan nating estudyante, na nakakalungkot nga. Pero it's actually a confluence of factors to cause somebody to commit suicide, and part of that is when you're depressed," said Dr. Paul V. Lee, head of the psychiatry section of Manila Doctors Hospital and associate professor of UP Manila. 

 

"Commonly, maraming factors that cause depression. In fact, I would always say there's no one single cause of suicide, and depression is one of them," Lee said on GMA's News to Go on Monday, set by UP Manila as a "day of mourning." 

 

The Manila Police District deployed teams to secure UP Manila to maintain peace and order amid expected protest activities there, a dzBB report said. Some militant groups have launched a one-week protest for "justice" for Kristel.

 

Symptoms of depression

 

Lee explained that suicide is one of the symptoms of depression. "Along with that, nalulungkot ka, hopeless, and then naaapektuhan na 'yung relationship mo sa ibang tao at 'yung trabaho mo. A lot of times, ito 'yung nagpapatong-patong," he said. 

 

Some people may have a tendency to get depressed, as there is familial or genetic depression. On the other hand, there is also major depression, an illness that can affect anyone. 

 

Lee said the longer depression goes untreated, the higher the risk for suicide. 

 

He urged people who experience depression to seek professional help. 

 

"Nagagamot ang depression," Lee stressed, explaining that there are antidepressants to address chemical imbalances in the brain.

 

"Maraming natutulungan itong mga gamot, aside from 'yung pakikipag-usap doon sa taong may depression at tinutulungan," said Lee.

 

When depression lasts for more than two weeks, and is affecting work and relationships with others, it is time to seek professional help.

Lee said symptoms of depression include feelings of hopelessness, changes in appetite and sleep, and slowing of psychomotor skills. 

 

"Mabagal kumilos, mabagal mag-isip, concentration is affected kaya 'di nakakapagtrabaho. Nakakaapekto sa mga tao sa paligid, nagiging masyadong masungit, laging galit. It's time to see a doctor," he said. 

 

For those around people who are depressed, it is important to keep them company and offer support, even just by listening to them. 

 

"A lot of them nagi-isolate. Gusto nilang mag-isa. Pero kailangan samahan ito, at kausapin... malaking tulong ito sa kanila, at i-encourage silang magpatingin at humingi ng professional help," he said.

 

Last Friday, the 16-year-old Kristel took her own life by drinking silver cleaner, after filing a forced leave from school because of her family's financial difficulties.

 

Her death triggered outrage among various groups, including students and militants.

 

A wake-up call

 

UP Manila spokesman Dr. Anthony Leachon said Kristel Tejada's case may only be the "tip of the iceberg."  

 

"The death of this particular young lady (who is) so promising should be a call for us na i-elevate natin ang sistema ng edukasyon. Perhaps maliban sa infrastructure, sa budget," Leachon said in an interview on News to Go on Monday. 

 

Leachon said there should be a comprehensive educational bill, similar to the Sin Tax measure. "Para sa ganun naman 'yung health and education will be equated with a very nice human capital, which actually 'yan ang pag-asa ng bayan natin," he said.

 

According to Leachon, Kristel had been under bracket D, which requires students to pay P300 per unit. She took out a loan to pay her tuition, but was unable to repay it even with extensions on November 30, December 7, and December 19.

 

"Para maibsan siya, nagpa-rebracket siya sa E2," Leachon said, explaining that this would mean free tution, as well as a stipend. He said the problem was that she was unable to submit documentary evidence of her family's financial situation.

 

"Alam niyo naman in a government system, you have to give documentary evidence para maibigay. Hindi nakapag-submit ng dokumento eh. 'Yun ho ang naging problema," he said, based on the records of the Student Loan Board and the Office of Student Affairs.  

 

By the time Tejada's father managed to repay the loan, it was also too late and she was unable to enroll for the second semester, forcing her to file a leave of absence.

Leachon explained that the Leave of Absence would ensure that the student would not be stricken out from the university roster. 

 

"Kasi ang LOA according to the rules, puwede siyang health reason, puwedeng family reason, puwedeng personal reason, puwedeng financial reason. So kunwari okay ka na, magaling ka na sa sakit mo o may pera ka na, sa next semester hindi ka masa-strike out. Estudyante ka pa rin ng unibersidad," he said.

No denial of access to education

 

He added that students have long been against UP Manila's no late payment policy, which is under Circular 330 of the 1975 University Code. On March 14, UP President Alfredo Pascual held a meeting with the UP Chancellors, where he mandated that no UP student should be deprived of education due to the inability to pay tuition. 

 

"Mayroon ho silang ginawang proposal na ipre-present sa BOR next month, and then may kaukulan ding pera 'yun na aaprubahan ng Senado at Congress. Ganun po kasi ang sistema," Leachon said.

 

"I am deeply saddened by the tragic death of Kristel Tejada. To think that it happened a day after I instructed the chancellors at our council meeting held last Thursday that we should not deny access to qualified students who cannot enroll because of financial constraints," Pascual said in a statement. 



 

Pascual also said reforms to simplify the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program application process and to increase the financial aid for poor students were already planned for board action next month. 

 

At a press briefing on Monday, UP Manila Chancellor Manuel Agulto said he would have given financial assistance himself, had he known about the student's problems. 
 

Leachon also said that apart from the tuition fee, there are other factors to consider, such as poverty.

"Maraming nakikita tayo rito. Ang sinasabi ko nga baka kulang lang ng suporta sa mga ganito at repasuhin natin kung papaano natin mapapangalagaan 'yung mga bata, hindi lang doon sa polisiya kung 'di in terms of engaging 'yung kanilang stability sa pag-iisip at sa kanilang pag-aaral," he said.

 

Wake and burial

 

Bles Tejada, mother of Kristel, said Monday their plan is to have Kristel buried at the Manila North Cemetery.

 

"Ang schedule namin sa Sabado ihahatid namin si Kristel sa huling hantungan, sa Manila North Cemetery," she said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

The girl's remains had been brought to the Sanctuary Funeral Chapels on Abad Santos Street in Manila, radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported. —Carmela G. Lapeña/KG/YA, GMA News