STUDENTS from various universities have denounced the administration of the Batangas State University after inserting a ‘non-suicide’ clause in the school contract that made the rounds of social media over the weekend.

The clause is included in the university’s Office of Guidance and Counseling Manual 2017 edition, which will bind the signatories against any attempt to commit suicide, cause harm to oneself, and to ‘get rid of all thoughts and activities that would result in intentionally causing harm or death.’

The contract will also bind the signatories to remind themselves to call their loved ones and ask for help the moment they feel like hurting themselves.

Students were enraged upon learning such a contract exists and questioned its credibility in relation to psychological practice.

“WHAT THE F***!!! THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE,” “Suicide Awareness left the room,” “this is so sick and twisted,” were some of the sentiments shared by students on social media regarding the controversy.

Meanwhile, Kapit Pinas, a mental health awareness and suicide prevention Facebook page, noted that ‘non-suicide’ contracts are already being used by other countries as self-awareness activity or an activity between patients and their therapist’.

The advocacy group noted the contract can be both helpful and not at the same time, and advised people to be mindful when signing it.

The group also commended the university but urged to improve the wording in a more compassionate way as the phrase is formal and reduces the tone of compassion.

The Samahan ng mga Progresibong Kabataan on the other hand, decried what it called a disgusting action of the university and noted that an implementation of an academic freeze will temporarily address the mental health crises of students with their education amid the Covid19 pandemic.