SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday stressed the need for the continued provision of psychosocial support to learners following the Philippine Statistics Authority’s report that suicide cases went up last year.

According to the PSA, cases of intentional self-harm recorded in 2020 rose by 25.7 percent — 3,529 compared to 2,808 in 2019.

It said that the number of calls to the National Center for Mental Health also increased last year.

From May 2019 to February 2020, the center received an average of 400 calls monthly. This increased to 953 calls from March to May 2020.

Gatchalian said that the country’s learners are especially vulnerable because they had to bear the brunt of a yearlong school shutdown and home confinement.

Aside from isolation, other stressors include health-related fears and financial losses.

“Dapat nating bigyan ng prayoridad ang kapakanan at mental health ng mga kabataan, lalo na’t isang taon na nilang hindi nakakasalamuha nang personal ang kanilang mga guro at kamag-aral,” the chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture said.

Gatchalian proposed psychosocial support programs for teachers and learners to identify risky behavior, including those related to suicide, so these can be addressed or reported to proper authorities.

The lawmaker also pointed out that under Republic Act 11036 or the Mental Health Act, educational institutions are mandated to raise awareness on mental health issues, provide support and services for individuals at risk, and facilitate access, including referral mechanisms, to treatment and psychosocial support.

Prior to the pandemic, the Filipino youth was struggling with mental health woes.

A 2015 survey by the World Health Organization showed that 16.8 percent of 8,761 student-participants aged 13-17 attempted suicide one or more times a year before the survey.

In an advocacy brief, the United Nations Children’s Fund warned that containment measures and school closures make children feel isolated.

Among the consequences of these are anxiety and sleep problems, which are also caused by increased gadget usage, irregular eating habits, and reduced physical activity.