KABATAAN Partylist Rep. Raoul Manuel urged the administration of President Bongbong Marcos Jr. to address the mental health crisis among students.

The call came after another student allegedly committed suicide owing to failure of graduating on time.

Based on Kabataan Partylist’s information, the body of the student was found lifeless at her lodging house in Catarman, Northern Samar on the day of the University of Eastern Philippines’ 62nd Commencement Exercises.

Found in the room of the student was an alleged suicide note, where she apologizes to her parents for not being able to graduate on time.

“Our country cannot afford to keep turning a blind eye on the hundreds of young lives that have been taken by academic and economic pressures of today’s society. Panahon na para bigyang atensyon ng Marcos Jr.-Duterte administration ang umiiral na mental health crisis at pagtalakayan ang ganitong mga insidente upang makabuo agad ng pambansang plano. Dapat bahagi ng ongoing review ng education system ng EDCOM 2 at ng K-12 review ng DepEd ang pagtiyak na makamasa at makatao ang edukasyon natin,” Manuel said.

“Mahigpit na yakap sa kapwa kabataan na humaharap sa kani-kanilang pagsubok. Sana ay maging mas maunawain tayo sa isa’t isa at sa sarili. Ipaglaban natin ang kinabukasan kung saan walang sinumang kabataan ang masasawi dahil lang siya ay nangarap,” he added.

After consultations with mental health advocates and organizations, Kabataan Partylist is set to file a House Resolution urging the Marcos Jr. administration to investigate the mental health crisis in the country.