How to Help Learners Who are at Risk
It is essential to take child suicides seriously and to take steps to prevent it from happening.
For Save the Children Philippines, children from all backgrounds and identities have the right to mental health. All children deserve to live and learn in a safe and nurturing environment that will allow them to develop their social and emotional skills, increase their space for play and interaction with peers, and provide them access to high quality mental health care and psychosocial support services.
“Now more than ever, the inequalities experienced by our learners -that were exposed and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic- should be put to an immediate end. Filipino learners should not face stressors and challenges alone. We have to be there for and with them in these trying times, and respond to their issues effectively to build back better for and with children,” Save the Children Philippines said.
The group said mental health services should be strengthened to support children with special protection needs such as children with disabilities, indigenous children, children in alternative care, children in street situations, children affected by disasters, climate change, and armed conflict, children in conflict with the law, and other children victims of violence.
“We have to break the stigma and tear down the environment of shame that have cloaked generations of children in silence and prevented them from enjoying their right to live in a safe and healthy environment,” Save the Children Philippines CEO Atty. Alberto Mayor said.
“We can save millions of children affected if we raise awareness and deepen the conversation on mental health; make information, programs, and services readily available; strengthen the capacity of children, parents, duty bearers, and the community to respond and address children’s mental health issues, and reinforce multi-sectoral collaboration to strictly ensure and monitor the full implementation of related laws and policies,” Muyot added.
Parents and guardians, for their part, can help by paying attention to warning signs and seeking help if they are concerned about a child's well-being.
Warning signs of suicide in children can include changes in behavior, such as withdrawing from friends and activities, a sudden decrease in grades, and changes in eating or sleeping habits.
Another way to help children who may be at risk is to encourage them to talk about their feelings and to provide them with a safe and supportive environment. This can include letting them know that it's okay to talk about difficult emotions and that they are loved and supported, no matter what.
In addition, it is crucial to educate children about mental health and suicide and to encourage them to seek help if they are struggling. This can include teaching children about the signs of depression and other mental health issues, and providing them with resources, such as a school guidance counselor, a helpline, or a mental health clinic.
Finally, it is essential to work together as a community to provide children with the support and resources they need. This can include advocating for better access to mental health resources, working with schools to create a supportive environment for students, and raising awareness about the importance of mental health.
Child suicides are a growing epidemic that must be addressed urgently. While there is no single solution to this problem, it is important to take steps to prevent it from happening, including paying attention to warning signs, providing a supportive environment for children, educating them about mental health, and working together as a community to provide the resources and support they need. With the right support and resources, we can help children overcome their struggles and lead happy and fulfilling lives.
“Let us invest in children’s mental health and well-being by creating a better world that will positively transform their lives and the future we share,” Muyot concluded. (PIA-NCR)
