Why suicide is not something to joke aboutMANILA, Philippines — Mental health advocates strongly condemn the trivializing of suicide, which claims 800,000 lives in a year, according to the World Health Organization. WHO consoders suicide “a serious public health problem,” with data showing someone committing suicide every 40 seconds. “Mental health advocacy groups work so hard to fight the stigma and promote responsible means of reporting mental health,” Naguit said in a Facebook post. Health Undersecretary Herminigildo Valle said last June that there were 2,550 recorded suicide cases in the country. Mental Health LawThe Philippines enacted a Mental Health bill on June 21, 2018 after years of lobbying and of going through the legislative mill.

Source: Philippine Star September 27, 2018 07:07 UTC