ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews/30 June) – Suicidal tendencies among the young people can be attributed to the phenomenon called “emo” culture, a psychologist said in reaction to three suicide cases which happened here within the month of June.
“Emo” is short for emotion or emotional.
Emedina Juevenciano, who conducts psychosocial activities for children in conflict areas, explained that “this is a kind of culture that views depression, sadness and the dark side of life as cool.”
“This emo-consciousness, as manifested by the preference for black lipstick, nail polish and clothes, can truly hit them badly if left without love and guidance,” she warned.
Of the three suicide victims, two were students of Mindanao State University-Institute of Technology while the third one has remained unidentified.
Boy Apao, an official at MSU-IIT’s Division of Students Affairs downplayed the cases as isolated and said these should not a cause for alarm.
Last June 4, an engineering student hanged himself in their home at Green Heights here reportedly because he flunked his Math 17 subject.
DSA officials said that his parents apparently did not know his problem.
In June 16, a student enrolled at IIT’s School of Computer Studies killed himself allegedly owing to emotional problems. His girlfriend reportedly broke up with him, Apao said.
Apao said the student was not known to the faculty because he had just enrolled and the incident took place before classes started.
On Monday morning, a still unidentified young man jumped from the overpass on the road fronting MSU-IIT causing his instant death.
Records at the city’s Police Station 1 said that “three persons, one of whom is a female, were seen conversing at the overpass bridge when one of them suddenly jumped off the bridge.”
Witnesses said the victim’s companions looked at the dead body before leaving the area, the police report added.
His dead body was immediately brought to a hospital and transferred to Capin Funeral Homes yesterday.
The victim wore a white t-shirt, checkered light maroon-black short pants with belt, estimated to be 18-23 years old, 5’2” height and was wearing slippers, the report said.
Apao said they had checked the registered dormitories and none reported to have a missing student-occupant. He said, however, that they will post the victim’s photo in the campus for his possible identification.
Juevenciano noted that the suicide victims were males. She said it is mostly the males who have difficulty handling depression and failures.
She said the schools should focus not only on skills development but also on helping the youths understand themselves and equip them with coping mechanisms. (Violeta M. Gloria/MindaNews)
