SAN Jose del Monte Representative Florida Robes wants the government to take a lead role in addressing rising cases of mental health problems among the youth.

Robes, in a privilege speech on Tuesday, raised the alarm on the rising cases of mental health problems among the youth as she proposed to create a multi-agency task force to spearhead programs and activities that will create mental health awareness among family members in communities.

Robes want a wider government intervention as she revealed that depression, suicide, and mental health disorders have been plaguing the Filipino youth prior to and even after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As a mental health advocate, I believe in a practical and manageable solution to prevent and avert the loss of lives brought about by the invisible pandemic of depression and suicide. The recurring theme in these suicide stories is the lack of effective communication among members of the family,” Robes said.

She revealed that based on a study conducted by Global School-Based Student Health Survey Philippines, an estimated 17% of 13-17 years old have “attempted suicide” at least once a year.

“Ironically, the quarantine restrictions at the start of the pandemic kept parents and their children in the confines of their homes, but still, many families failed to address issues (of) depression and suicide. The 2021 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study revealed that symptoms of depression among our youth spiked from 2013 to 2021,” she said.

The same study showed a doubling of suicide ideation and suicide attempts among the youth from 2013 to 2021, showing that young adults aged 15-24 have considered ending their lives “when this is the stage where it is supposed to be the time that they are building their dreams and conquering the world.”

The same survey said that in 2013, 574,000.00 or 3% of Filipino youth attempted to “end their life.”

“It is alarming to know that, in 2021, around 1.5 million Filipino youth, or 7% attempted to commit suicide,” Robes said.

“Six out of ten of the respondents said that they did not reach out to anyone about it. And, if ever they did, who did they run to for help? 25% sought help from friends instead of their parents or guardians. Only 7% of suicide ideators reached out to their parents; and 5% from relatives. And this is heartbreaking. As parents, we ought to be the first people that our children run to in times of need. Tayo dapat ang unang sumbungan at takbuhan ng ating mga anak, ang hinahanap nila kapag sila ay malungkot o nasasaktan,” she said.

She revealed that the data she presented “is an autopsy of what is going wrong in our families,” as cases of suicide, depression, and mental health problems are just the symptoms.

“And to understand the cause, we need to dig deeper. Bilang magulang, hindi ba dapat instinct sa atin kapag may dinaramdam ang ating mga anak because we know them from the time they are born? Sometimes, we see the signs but we fail to heed them. Worse, ay mayroon agad judgment at negative remarks kaya nahihiya na silang lumapit at kausapin ang kanilang mga magulang,” she added.

In her speech, Robes unveiled her plan for a wider government and community intervention to address these problems even as she urged several government agencies, especially the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Philippine Commission on Women and Children (PCWC) to spearhead programs and activities that will “create mental health awareness among families, initiate dialogue between parents and children, capacitate both parents and their children to effectively express themselves and engage in healthy and affirmative conversations with passion.”

She also urged families and communities to take the initiative to support effective communication within families. “I am aware that there are many non-government and civic society groups that voluntarily provide services supporting the promotion and welfare of families.”

“‘Nak, usap tayo…’ are three simple words that may make our children feel: they are valued and loved; their voices are important and deserve to be heard; they have someone to lean on during the difficult and trying times of their lives; that healing starts in the family; and that a beautiful world is possible,” she said as she also urged parents to have a simple conversation with their children which “(maybe) that last sliver of hope to save their lives before it is too late.”

Robes also urged House members to join her call for a measure declaring the month of February as the “Buwan ng Pag-uusap ng Pamilya,” to raise mental health awareness among family members.

She said that in San Jose del Monte alone, she and her husband, Mayor Arthur Robes, had already launched a project called “One-Like-For-Life,” a community campaign organized with doctors, nurses, psychologists, and other mental health practitioners which provided counseling to the youth and children.

She also acknowledged the participation of representatives from Emotional Reset Center, City College of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, Bulacan State University, Colegio de San Agustin, DepEd City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, City Government Employees Association of CSJDM, Private Schools of CSJDM, and affected families, to make her effort in San Jose del Monte successful.

She said participants have implemented a practical and manageable solution to prevent and avert the loss of lives brought about by depression and suicide.

She revealed that, based on interviews, the recurring theme in these “suicide stories” is the lack of effective communication among members of the family.

“There is, therefore, a need to provide avenues to bring families to talk again,” she added.