Home⇛Social Sciences and Development Review Journal⇛vol. 12 no. 1 (2020)

Social construction of suicide in the Philippines based on the perspectives of undergraduate students from two universities in Metro Manila

Mark Anthony M. Quintos

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

A total of 308 undergraduate students from a sectarian, predominantly middle and upper-middle socio-economic class university (n=139) and a stateowned, non-sectarian, predominantly lower socio-economic class university (n=169) were engaged in a survey research that attempted to understand their perceptions on suicide as a phenomenon. Results indicate that the students from the two universities are very similar in their social constructions of the reality of suicide among the Filipino youth: they believe that suicide is primarily due to depression and other mental illnesses, that majority of young Filipinos have thought of suicide at least once, and that almost 1 out of every 3 has attempted the act. While they generally maintain that all members of the youth are at-risk of suicide, many also believe that the risk is particularly high for youth exposed to violence and members of the LGBT. They also tend to believe that suicide is a cry for help and that they are willing, capable, and even duty-bound to help in cases of suicide. The students believe that suicide is a topic often considered taboo in the Philippines but one that needs to be a part of more conversations. Finally, the students are generally undecided on the acceptability of suicide but also disagree with the notion that suicide can never be justified. The findings suggest that the Philippines, particularly its youth, may be ready for conversations and mobilizations in favor of suicide prevention but are still unprepared for the premise of suicide and assisted suicide as justifiable actions.



References:

  1. Albert, J. R. G., G. F. Santos, J.F.V. Vizmanos. (2018). Profile and determinants of the middleincome class in the Philippines. PIDS Discussion Paper No. 2018-20. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Institute for Development Studies. https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidsdps1820.pdf.
  2. Andrade, C., Menon, V., Ameen, S., & Kumar Praharaj, S. (2020). Designing and Conducting Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Surveys in Psychiatry: Practical Guidance. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 42(5), 478–481. https://doi.org/10.1177/0253717620946111.
  3. Ajzen, I. (1985). From intentions to actions: A theory of planned behavior. In J. Kuhl & J. Beckman (Eds.), Action-control: From cognition to behavior (pp. 11-39). Heidelberg, Germany: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69746-3_2.
  4. Aronson, E. (1969). The theory of cognitive dissonance: A current perspective. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.). Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 4, pp. 1–34). New York, NY: Academic Press.
  5. Batar, M.I. and A. Vasquez. (2016). Swisayd: Untangling the rope of pagpapakamatay. In Abaya, E., Batar, M.I. and A. Vasquez. (2016). Tagalog Notions of Mental Illness and Healing. Central Books: Q.C., Philippines.
  6. Catuncan, M. (1959). The etiology of suicide in Manila and suburbs. Philippine Sociological Review, 7(4), 26-33.
  7. Dela Pena, K. (2021). The crisis within: Suicides rise as COVID takes its toll on lives, livelihood. Inquirer. Retrieved February 20, 2022 from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1506903/the-crisis-within-suicides-rise-as-covidtakes-its-toll-on-lives-livelihood#ixzz7LQrClBVA.
  8. Domingo, K. (2021). Suicide deaths up 26 percent in pandemic year: PSA. ABS-CBN News. Retrieved February 20, 2022 from https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/17/21/suicide-deaths-up-26-percent-inpandemic-year-psa.
  9. Estrada, C., Nonaka, D., Gregorio, E. R., Jr, Leynes, C. R., Del Castillo, R. T., Hernandez, P., Hayakawa, T., & Kobayashi, J. (2019). Suicidal ideation, suicidal behaviors, and attitudes towards suicide of adolescents enrolled in the Alternative Learning System in Manila, Philippines-a mixed methods study. Tropical medicine and health, 47(22).
  10. Ewing, JF. (1955). Juramentado: Institutionalized Suicide among the Moros of the Philippines. Anthropological Quarterly, 28(4): 148–155.
  11. Fan, Y., Zhang, S., Li, Y., Li, Y., Zhang, T., Liu, W. & H. Jiang. (2018). Development and psychometric testing of the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) questionnaire among student Tuberculosis (TB) Patients (STBP-KAPQ) in China. BMC Infect Dis 18(213). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-018- 3122-9.
  12. Festinger, L. (1957). A theory of cognitive dissonance. Evanston, IL: Row, Peterson
  13. Fishbein, M., & Ajzen, I. (1975). Belief, attitude, intention and behavior: An introduction to theory and research. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
  14. Francisco, M.L. & S. Cuason. (2017). The Association of the Frequency of Family Meals to Family Members’ Suicide Ideation and Depression Scores of Filipino Young Adults. The Bedan Journal of Psychology, 1: 95-101.
  15. Godinez, B. (2021). Study reveals top causes of deaths in the Philippines in 2020; suicide cases increase amid the pandemic. GMA Network. Retrieved February 20, 2022 from https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/celebritylife/health/75243/study-reveals-top-causes-of-deaths-in-the-philippines-in-2020-suicide-casesincrease-amid-the-pandemic/story.
  16. Gregorio, X. (2021). Pandemic year sees 57% rise in suicide rate in Philippines. The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 20, 2022 from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/07/06/2110596/pandemic-yearsees-57-rise-suicide-rate-philippines.
  17. Jones, RA. (1986). Emile Durkheim: An Introduction to Four Major Works. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
  18. Lie, H. and J.C. Liou. (2012). Suicide Behavior among Junior High School Students in Philippines and Indonesia Associated with the Social Factors. GSTF International Journal of BioSciences, Vol.2(1): 92-97.
  19. Manalastas, E.J. (2013). Sexual Orientation and Suicide Risk in the Philippines: Evidence from a Nationally Representative Sample of Young Filipino Men. Philippine Journal of Psychology, 46(1): 1-13.
  20. Manalastas, E.J. (2016). Suicide ideation and suicide attempt among young lesbian and bisexual Filipina women: Evidence for disparities in the Philippines. Asian Women, 32(3): 101-120.
  21. Nortajuddin, A. (2020). Suicide Spikes Amid Pandemic?. The ASEAN Post. Retrieved February 20, 2022 from https://theaseanpost.com/article/suicide-spikes-amid-pandemic.
  22. Page, R. M., West, J. H., & Hall, P. C. (2011). Psychosocial Distress and Suicide Ideation in Chinese and Philippine Adolescents. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 23(5), 774–791.
  23. Pascual, M. and E. Abaya. (2016). Making sense of depress, a Tagalog idiom of suffering. In Abaya, E., Batar, M.I. and A. Vasquez. (2016). Tagalog Notions of Mental Illness and Healing. Central Books: Q.C. Philippines.
  24. Peltzer, K., & Pengpid, S. (2017). Suicidal ideation and associated factors among students aged 13–15 years in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states, 2007–2013. International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, 21, 201 - 208.
  25. Quintos, M.A. (2017a). Prevalence of suicide ideation and suicide attempts among the Filipino youth and its relationship with the family unit. Asia-Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 5(2): 11-23.
  26. Quintos, M.A. (2017b). Predictors of Suicide Ideation among the Filipino Youth: Findings from a Nationally Representative Survey of Filipinos Aged 15 to 27. Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 6(2): 1-16.
  27. Quintos, M.A. (2017c). Towards a Push-Pull Theoretical Understanding in the Sociology of Suicide: Revisiting what we know and what we can explore. Silliman Journal, 58(1): 153-183.
  28. Quintos, M.A. (2018). The Relationship between Religion and Suicide Risk among the Filipino Youth: A Study using a Nationally Representative Sample. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, Arts and Sciences, 5(2): 79-88.
  29. Quintos, M.A. (2019a). Suicide Ideation, Suicide Planning, and Suicide Attempts among High School Students in the Philippines: Trends and insights from four nationally representative datasets. Journal of Social Health, 2(2): 20-33.
  30. Quintos, M.A. (2019b). Who are knocking on Death’s door?: Predictors of suicide attempt among young Filipino suicide ideators. Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 7(1): 11-24.
  31. Quintos, M.A. (2020a). Prevalence and Predictors of Planned and Impulsive Suicides among Filipino Students using a Nationally Representative Sample: Highlighting the importance of parental and peer-group factors. Journal of Social Health, 3(1).
  32. Quintos, M.A. (2020b). Identifying the Predictors of Suicide Ideation, Suicide Planning, and Suicide Attempts among High School Students in the Philippines from four nationally representative datasets. Asia-Pacific Journal of Education, Arts and Sciences, 7(2): 1-18.
  33. Redaniel, M.T., Lebanan-Dalida, M.A. and D. Gunnell. (2011). Suicide in the Philippines: time trend analysis (1974-2005) and literature review. BMC Public Health, 11:536.
  34. Reyes, M.E., Davis, R., David, A.J., Del Rosario, C.J., Dizon, A.P., Fernandez, J.L. & M. Viquiera. (2017). Stigma Burden as a Predictor of Suicidal Behavior among Lesbians and Gays in the Philippines. Suicidology Online, 8(26).
  35. Reyes, M.E. , Davis, R., Chua, C.A.P., Olaveria, G., Pamintuan, L.J., Serrano, K. & J.L. Tan. (2020). Relative Importance of Social Support and Social Connectedness as Protective Factors of Suicidal Ideation Among Selected Filipino Late Adolescents. Suicidology Online, 11(1).
  36. Ritzer, George. (2010). Sociological Theory (8thed). McGraw-Hill.
  37. Rivas, R. (2021). Suicide cases rise in PH as pandemic drags on. Rappler. Retrieved February 20, 2022 from https://www.rappler.com/nation/suicide-rises-philippinespandemic-drags-on-2021/.
  38. Sta. Maria, M., Lee, R., Estanislao, S., Rodriguez, C., Wang, J. and Y. Liu. (2015). A Multivariate Analysis of Suicide Ideation Among University Students in the Philippines. AsiaPacific Social Science Review, 15(1): 46- 62.
  39. Weber, M., Parsons, T., & Tawney, R. H. (1930). The Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., Museum Street.
  40. Velado-Ramirez, S. (2021). Trigger Warning: PH suicide cases up by 25.7% amidst COVID-19 pandemic. People’s Television Network, Philippines. Retrieved February 20, 2022 from https://ptvnews.ph/trigger-warning-ph-suicide-cases-up-by-25-7-amidstcovid-19-pandemic/
  41. Vijayakumar, L., Ray, S., Fernandes, T. N., & Pathare, S. (2021). A descriptive mapping review of suicide in vulnerable populations in low and middle countries. AsiaPacific Psychiatry: Official Journal of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists, 13(3), e12472. https://doi.org/10.1111/appy.12472.

Tools


Copyright © 2024  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic