Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1408

HOUSE BILL NO."

Introduced by CONGRESSMAN ALFRED VARGAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to the World Health Organization, suicide is the second leading cause
of death among people 15 to 29 years of age, Among these, the 20 to 24 age bracket
records the highest number of suicide cases with 342. 2

These figures are lower than the annual global age-standardized suicide rate of
11.4 per 100,000 population. However, itis likely that suicide cases are underreported
due to competing health problems and the associated negative stigma against people
with suicidal tendencies and their family.

While suicide rates are low in the Philippines, the relatively high rates in
adolescents and young adults highlight the importance of focused suicide prevention
programs

This bill takes the initial steps in preventing suicide among the youth, It
proposes to create the National Youth Prevention Coordinating Council which will
formulate programs and strategies for youth suicide early intervention, prevention,
and response. It also seeks to standardize technical assistance and data management
in order to evaluate prevention measures effectively.

For these reasons, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

FRED VARGAS

"Lapena, Carmela. (2015). “Special Report: Suicide and the Pinoy Youth.” GMA News Online. Available a:
m/ne ryiS2 estyie/healthandwelln

[Accessed 17 March 2017].

:/special-report-suicide-and-

+ Philippine Dally Inquirer (2016). "Inthe Know: Suicide Cases inthe Philippines.” [online] Available at:
OL/in-the-know-s hilippines { Accessed 20 March

2017)

* Redaniel, M.T., et al. (2011). “Suicide the Philippines: Time Trend Analysis (1974-2005) and Literature
Review.” BMC Public Health 2011, 11:536,


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1408

Introduced by CONGRESSMAN ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT

TO PROVIDE EARLY YOUTH SUICIDE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION EXPANSION

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of the Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Youth Suicide
Prevention Act of 2019.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Under Article II Section 13 of the 1987
Constitution, the State shall promote and protect the holistic well-being of the youth. In
view of this policy, the State shall promote programs that aim to increase public awareness
on the risk factors of suicide, prevention of suicide among the youth, and develop a
support mechanism to young individuals with suicidal tendencies,

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. ~

{a)

(b)

ica)

Eligible entity refers to State, political subdivision, public organization, or
private non-profit organization involved actively in youth suicide early
intervention and prevention activities and in the development and
continuation of nationwide youth suicide early intervention and
prevention strategies;

Best evidence-based programs refer to programs that have undergone
scientific evaluation and proven to be effective;

Educational Institution refers to institution of basic, technical and higher
education;

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;

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 or similar adverse behavior;


(1) Youth refers to an individual between fifteen (15) and twenty nine (29)
years of age; and

(g) Youth Suicide Program refers to youth suicide intervention, prevention
and response strategies;

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: Department of Health (DOH), National
Youth Commission (NYC), 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 organized 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
Secretary of Health and 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.

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)

(b)

(d)

(e)

(fH

(g)

Integration of mental health and personality development education into
the basic and higher education curricula;

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;

Formulation of parent education programs designed to increase family
support and capacity for household-based early detection, response and
prevention of youth suicide;

Coordination and assistance of local government units in formulating local
programs on early intervention, prevention and response strategies;

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;

Formulation of a youth suicide rehabilitation program that aims to provide
assistance to youth with previous history of suicidal behavior; and

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)

(b)

(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;

demonstrate collaboration among early intervention and prevention
services or certify that entities will engage in future collaboration;

employ or include in their applications a commitment to engage in an
evaluative process the best evidence-based or promising youth suicide
carly intervention and prevention practices and strategies adapted to the
Jocal community;

provide for the timely assessment of youth who are at risk for emotional
disorders which may lead to suicide attempts;


{e)

(8)

(h)

10)

(m)

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;

provide immediate support and information resources to families of youth
who are at risk for emotional behavioral disorders which may lead to
suicide attempts;

offer equal access to services and care to youth with diverse social and
economic backgrounds;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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

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 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;

(a) 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;

(1) 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.

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,