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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. B. No. 
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SEP 20 
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Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
TO PROVIDE EARLY YOUTH SUICIDE INTERVENTION AND
PREVENTION EXPANSION
Suicide among the youth is global problem that needs to be addressed. 
Across the globe, suicide is the second leading cause of death among people 15 to 
29 years of age, according to the 2014 global report on preventing suicide by the 
World Health Organization (WHO). 
Nevertheless, the complexity of the issue 
hampers family members, school authorities, peers, and even the youth themselves, 
from effectively addressing the issue.
Poor understanding of dynamics of suicide, coupled with the stigma 
associated with the behavior and its risk factors (including mental health problems 
and substance abuse), further limit the capacity of families and communities in 
providing early intervention and in preventing suicide among the youth. These also 
hinder families and communities from extending appropriate response to adverse 
behaviors related to suicide.
In the Philippines, the same WHO report estimated that the number of 
suicides in 2012 was 2,558 (550 for female and 2009 for male). While the statistics 
are reportedly low (especially in comparison to other Asian countries), the stigma 
associated with the behavior may have resulted in the underreporting of suicide 
incidences in the country, especially among low and middle income households. 
Currently, the Philippines needs more reliable data in order to better understand 
suicide behavior and establish effective prevention strategies in the country.
In view of this, this bill proposes to establish the National Youth Suicide 
Prevention Coordinating Council tasked to formulate strategies for youth suicide 
early intervention, prevention and response in the country. The council shall be 
composed of the following: representatives from various national government 
agencies mandated to implement health- and education-related youth suicide 
prevention programs in both schools and communities across the country; 
professional practitioners and experts in fields related to youth suicide; and civil 
society groups actively engaging projects, activities, and programs on youth suicide 
intervention, prevention, and response.


Among others, these strategies intend to help the Filipino youth understand, 
prevent, and/or overcome the adverse conditions that increase the risk of suicidal 
behavior. The strategies also seek to improve the public understanding of suicide 
and suicidal behavior among the youth, and therefore minimize the stigma attached 
to the behavior. They also aim to improve the capacity of parents, school authorities, 
and community leaders to extend effective and adequate intervention and response 
to suicidal behavior.
In recognition of the need for a broad, multi-stakeholder participation to 
address youth suicide, this bill also proposes to provide grants to eligible entities 
(from both public and private sectors) tasked to undertake the different strategies 
identified by the Council.
Additional features of the bill include the establishment of a standardized 
collection and management of data on youth suicide, promotion of research on youth 
suicide to support evidence-based youth suicide intervention, prevention and 
response strategies, and institutionalization of the 24/7 national hotline for suicide 
preventio7n.
To effectively address youth suicide in the Philippine, the passage of this bill 
is earnestly sought.
SENATOR 40EL VILLANUEVA


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S.B. No. ^*-^63
Scnati'
(5ffut of the,?'*Liri jry
*16 
SEP 20 
P 5 :1 9
K i c .  r  • ■ XVS:_J_
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
TO PROVIDE EARLY YOUTH SUICIDE INTERVENTION AND
PREVENTION EXPANSION
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:
SEC. 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Youth Suicide Prevention
Act:
SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. -
(a) 
Eligible entity refers to State, political subdivision, public organization, or 
private non-profit organization actively involved in youth suicide early 
intervention and prevention activities and in the development and continuation 
of nationwide youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies;
(b) 
Best evidence-based programs refers to programs that have undergone 
scientific evaluation and proven to be effective;
(c) 
Educational institution refers to institutions of basic, technical and higher 
education;
(d) 
Prevention refers to a strategy or approach that reduces the likelihood or risk 
of onset, or delays the onset, of adverse health problems, conditions, or 
behaviors;
(e) 
Response refers to a strategy or approach that minimizes the harm resulting 
from adverse conditions or actions, and/or reduces the likelihood or risk of 
future undertaking of similar adverse behavior;
(f) 
Youth refers to an individual between five (5) and twenty nine (29) years of 
age; and
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(g) 
Youth Suicide Program refers to youth suicide intervention, prevention and 
response strategies.
SEC. 3. Statement of Policy. -  The State shall formulate, promote and implement 
programs that aim to increase public awareness on the risk factors of youth suicide, 
prevent youth suicide and develop a support mechanism to young individuals 
displaying suicidal behavior and/or have previous history of suicidal behavior.
SEC. 4. National Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council. -  There is 
hereby created a Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council (hereinafter 
referred to as the Council).
SEC. 5. Composition. -  The Council shall be composed of representatives from 
the following sectors:
(a) 
Government -  Senior government officials from each of the following national 
government agencies; National Youth Commission (NYC), Department of 
Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher 
Education (CHED) and Department of Social Work and Development 
(DSWD);
(b) 
Academe -  Experts, scholars, and professionals officially affiliated with duly 
recognized academic institutions, and are actively involved in the research 
and practice of fields concerning mental health, counseling, personality 
development and substance abuse;
(c) 
Civil Society -  Representatives from duly recognized non-profit organizations 
including, but not limited to, community-based organizations, independent 
research institutions, medical and educational associations and faith-based 
organizations actively involved in projects, activities, and programs related to 
youth suicide intervention, prevention and response.
The Council shall be headed by a Chairperson who must be selected by the 
Chairperson of the NYC.
SEC. 6. Functions. -  
The Council shall be tasked to perform the following 
functions:
(a) 
Identify specific youth suicide early intervention, prevention, and response 
strategies which shall serve as the guideline for reducing the risk of youth 
suicide in the country;
(b) 
Conduct regular monitoring and review of the implementation of the said 
strategies; and
(c) 
Ensure adequate funding and efficient spending for the programs concerning 
youth suicide.


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SEC. 7. Youth Suicide Program -  The Council shall formulate specific projects, 
activities and programs (PAPs) designed to develop capacity of school authorities, 
community and household members for early detection of suicidal behavior, 
prevention of youth suicide risk factors and provide proper support and response to 
youth displaying suicidal behavior. These may include, but are not limited to, the 
following strategies:
(a) 
Integration of mental health and personality development education into the 
basic and higher education curricula;
(b) 
Development of mental health and personality development training modules 
and public campaigns to be implemented in communities, juvenile justice 
systems, foster care systems and other youth support organizations and 
establishments;
(c) 
Formulation of parent education programs designed to increase family 
support and capacity for household-based early detection, response and 
prevention of youth suicide;
(d) 
Coordination and assistance of local government units in formulating local 
programs on early intervention, prevention and response strategies;
(e) 
Development of targeted intervention strategies for high risk youth, including 
those at risk of mental health problems, substance abuse disorder and other 
associated risk factors of youth suicide;
(f) 
Formulation of a youth suicide rehabilitation program that aims to provide 
assistance to youth with previous history of suicidal behavior; and
(g) 
Adoption of other best evidence-based programs for early intervention, 
prevention and response strategies identified by the Council.
SEC. 8. Eligible Entities. 
-  The Council shall identify eligible entities to be 
awarded grants and other agreements to implement the youth suicide early 
intervention, prevention and response strategies enumerated in Section 6 of this Act. 
In awarding grants or other agreements, the Council shall give preference to eligible 
entities that:
(a) 
provide early intervention services to youth in, and that are integrated with, 
school systems, educational institutions, juvenile justice systems, substance 
abuse programs, mental health programs, foster care systems and other child 
and youth support organizations;
(b) 
demonstrate collaboration among early intervention and prevention services 
or certify that entities will engage in future collaboration;
(c) 
employ or include in their applications a commitment to engage in an 
evaluative process the best evidence-based or promising youth suicide early 
intervention and prevention practices and strategies adapted to the local 
community;


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(d) 
provide for the timely assessment of youth who are at risk for emotional 
disorders which may lead to suicide attempts;
(e) 
provide timely referrals for appropriate community-based mental health care 
and treatment of youth in all child-serving settings and agencies who are at 
risk for suicide;
(f) 
provide immediate support and information resources to families of youth who 
are at risk for emotional behavioral disorders which may lead to suicide 
attempts;
(g) 
offer equal access to services and care to youth with diverse social and 
economic backgrounds;
(h) 
offer appropriate services, care, and information to families, friends, schools, 
educational institutions, juvenile justice systems, substance abuse programs, 
mental health programs, foster care systems and other child and youth 
support organizations of youth who recently attempted suicide;
(i) 
provide continuous and up-to-date information and awareness campaigns that 
target parents, family members, child care professionals, community care 
providers and the general public and highlight the risk factors associated with 
youth suicide and the lifesaving health and care available from early 
intervention and prevention services;
(j) 
ensure that information and awareness campaigns on youth suicide risk 
factors, and early intervention and prevention services use effective 
communication mechanisms that are targeted to reach youth, families, 
schools, educational institutions and youth organizations;
(k) 
provide a timely response system to ensure that child-serving professionals 
and providers are properly trained in youth suicide early intervention and 
prevention strategies and that child-serving professionals and providers 
involved in early intervention and prevention services are properly trained in 
effectively identifying youth who are at a risk for suicide;
(l) 
provide continuous training activities for child care professionals and 
community care providers on the latest best evidence-based program for 
youth suicide early intervention and prevention services practices and 
strategies; and
(m) 
work with interested families and advocacy organizations to conduct annual 
self-evaluation of outcomes and activities on the national level according to 
standards established by the Council.
SEC. 9. Technical Assistance and Data Management 
-  The Council shall 
identify recipients of technical assistance grants and other agreements with 
government agencies to conduct assessments independently or in collaboration with 
educational institutions related to the development of nationwide Youth Suicide


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Programs. Grants awarded under this section shall be used to establish programs 
for the development of standardized procedures for data management, such as:
(a) 
ensuring the quality of youth suicide early intervention and prevention 
strategies;
(b) 
providing technical assistance on data collection and management;
(c) 
studying the costs and effectiveness of nationwide youth suicide early 
intervention, prevention and response strategies in order to answer relevant 
issues of importance to national policymakers;
(d) 
identifying and understanding further the causes of and associated risk factors 
for youth suicide;
(e) 
ensuring the quality surveillance of suicidal behaviors and nonfatal suicidal 
attempts;
(f) 
studying the effectiveness of nationwide youth suicide early intervention, 
prevention and response strategies on the overall wellness and health 
promotion strategies related to suicide attempts; and
(g) 
promoting the sharing of data regarding youth suicide with government 
agencies involved with youth suicide early intervention, prevention, and 
response, and nationwide youth suicide early intervention, prevention and 
response strategies for the purpose of identifying previously unknown mental 
health causes and associated risk-factors for suicide in youth.
SEC. 10. Research. 
-  
The Council shall coordinate with concerned national 
agencies in conducting a program of research and development on the efficacy of 
new and existing youth suicide early intervention techniques and technology, 
including clinical studies and evaluations of early intervention methods, and related 
research aimed at reducing youth suicide and offering support for emotional and 
behavioral disorders which may lead to suicide attempts.
The concerned government agencies shall promote the sharing of research and 
development data developed pursuant to the preceding paragraph with the national 
agencies involved in Youth Suicide Programs and entities involved in nationwide 
Youth Suicide Programs for the purpose of applying and integrating new techniques 
and technology into existing nationwide Youth Suicide Programs.
SEC. 11. Suicide Hotline. The DOH shall establish a 24/7 hotline to provide 
assistance to affected youth. The existing suicide prevention hotline of the DOH shall 
be strengthened to ensure that the suicide intervention, prevention and responses 
are appropriate for the youth.
SEC. 12. Funding. The Congress shall allocate adequate funding for the 
implementation of the Youth Suicide Program, including grants to be awarded to 
eligible entities, in the General Appropriations Act.


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SEC. 13. Guidelines and Measures. -  Not later than ninety (90) days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Council shall assign the appropriate government 
agencies to promulgate and issue necessary guidelines and measures for the 
effective implementation of the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 14. Separability Clause. -  If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected 
shall remain valid and subsisting.
SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. -  Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation or part thereof, 
contrary to, or inconsistent with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified 
or amended accordingly.
SEC. 16. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,