CHED addresses suicide prevention

THE Commission on Higher Education is set to ink an agreement today, Tuesday, with Unilab Foundation Inc. to train guidance counselors, health staff and student leaders in universities and colleges to raise awareness and help prevent suicides.

CHED chief Prospero De Vera said school administrators and faculty members will also be included in the Training of Trainers Program for suicide prevention.

“This training program seeks to train the school administrators, teachers, guidance counselors, health staff, student leaders, and other mental health professionals to become effective gatekeepers in the school setting to prevent suicide within the community through proper identification, management, and referral of learners-at-risk,” De Vera said.

On its website, Unilab Foundation said one of its goals is to achieve long-term transformational impact in the areas of mental health and well-being, STEM education and careers and youth engagement.

A 2021 study by the University of the Philippines Population Institute showed that 20 percent of young Filipinos had considered suicide.

The Department of Education said 404 students died by suicide in school year 2021-2022 while 2,147 attempted suicides were also recorded.