A SUICIDE incident was reported in Iriga City in Bicol region involving a 21-year-old female student allegedly due to online class woes.

In a police report by Brigada News FM in Bicol on Friday, September 11, the parents of the victim said their daughter did not show any sign of problem aside from worrying over distance learning requirements.

This incident is now the third among the online class related deaths in the Bicol region.

In a statement, the National Union of Students of the Philippines told the Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education to “wake up” and consider the mental health of Filipino students.

“This frequency of suicide cases related to online classes must be enough for DepEd and CHED to heed the calls of students and teachers,” the NUSP said in a Facebook post.

“The mental health of students should be highly considered by DepEd and CHED in the pursuit of safe, accessible and quality education amid the pandemic,” they added.

Previously, two students from Sto. Domingo town in Albay have reportedly committed suicide also because of lack of funds to pursue online learning.

These are the numbers to contact in case you or someone you know needs help:

National Center for Mental Health 24/7 Crisis Hotlines

Mobile: 0917-899-USAP (8727)

Landline: (02) 7-989-USAP (8727) or 1553 (toll-free)