MORE than 1,700 students attempted suicide or took their own lives in the school year 2023-2024, data from the Department of Education showed.
The data showed there were 254 cases of suicides recorded in elementary, junior and senior high schools.
Of the number, 80 were in elementary, 113 in junior high schools, and 61 in senior high schools.
Education Undersecretary Wilfredo Cabral said among the contributing factors they are looking at are the influence of social media, problems in the family, and abuse, among others.
Of the 80 recorded suicide cases among elementary students, 45 were in Region IV-B (Mimaropa), 13 in Region 8 (Eastern Visayas), 4 in Region 11 (Davao Region), 3 each in Regions 7 (Central Visayas) and 12 (Soccsksargen), 2 each in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Region 6 (Western Visayas, and Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) and 1 each in the Ilocos Region, BARMM, Bicol Region and Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula).
The data showed that BARMM topped the list in junior high school with 21, followed by Central Luzon with 14 and Mimaropa with 10.
Of the 61 senior high school students who took their own lives, 12 were recorded in Central Visayas and 10 in Western Visayas.
Of the 1,492 attempted suicide cases in the same period, 93 were among elementary students, 1,078 in junior high schools and 321 in senior high schools.
The latest data is lower compared to school year 2021-2022 when a total of 404 young students took their own lives while 2,147 attempted suicide when most schools were shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A 2021 study by the University of the Philippines Population Institute showed that 20 percent of young Filipinos considered suicide.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently signed into law the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act aimed at strengthening mental health programs in schools and creating new plantilla positions for school councilors.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara hailed the enactment of the law, saying it is a vital step forward in ensuring that students are not only academically equipped but also mentally healthy.
“With this new law, we are taking a significant step towards ensuring our learners are equipped with the socio-emotional skills and support to navigate the challenges of modern life. By prioritizing mental health and well-being, we are investing in a healthier, brighter Philippines,” Angara added
