TEENAGE SUICIDE by Allysha Danielle E. Tadios

                Parents have a major role in their children’s lives – it is to keep them away from harm and danger. But what happens when these parents start to neglect their children? Our present society puts pressure, though unconsciously, to the youth of today to be this or to do that. It is rather hard to keep up with the standards being put up by these adults. Believe it or not, majority of the youth ask themselves, “Am I enough?” or “Did I do something that can satisfy them?” It doesn’t come as a surprise if someday, these teenagers would doubt their parents if they even love and care for them.

                Bombarded with things to do, roles to fulfill and tasks to accomplish, the youth doesn’t know where or what to start. There are those who were born lucky or fed with a silver spoon that they can get whatever they want in just a snap of a finger. But sad to say, we live in a cruel world where most of us couldn’t be as rich as the person owning the biggest shopping mall in the Philippines or be a member of a royal bloodline. An example to this is the suicide of the late Kristel Tejada, a behavioral science freshman from UP-Manila. The reason of her suicide was because she failed to pay her tuition fee amounting 10,000 php. She wasn’t able to comply since her family is struggling as well. Tejada considered that it was her duty to help her family thus her dismissal from school was shattering. According to her suicide not, “I just could not take it anymore.” The hardships encountered by Kristel are common for millions of working class youth. Too much may result to helplessness – but then again, suicide was never a solution. Based on the saying, ‘Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.’ It is a waste for youth to give up so easily just to ‘solve’ a problem which, in any way, it isn’t. Parents have to be with their children especially during hard times since teens, precisely, can’t handle pressure well.

                Media, social media to be exact, is also one of the reasons of teenage suicide. They tend to focus more on ‘how suicide was done’ instead of focusing on prevention. This is relatable to that of the deceased American actor and comedian Robin Williams. Tributes were offered, of course. One of those came from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, but what was perhaps intended as a moving act became controversial after the Huffington Post reported that it seemed to be glamorizing the act of suicide could spur imitative behavior among vulnerable individuals. As of today, technology is fast rising making the dissemination of events happening around the world real quick.

                Parents tend to ignore their children’s needs as if it’s nothing. On a separate note, the government has been encouraging youth to consult to adults especially when they have problems. But according to a study, troubled teens find it hard to approach an adult as they were afraid to be judged or simply adults would turn a blind eye on them. The death of Kapamilya actress Julia Buencamino would serve as an example. She didn’t show signs of being suicidal nor problematic but then again, she could’ve shown it elsewhere. And where can she express those thoughts if not through art? Months before her death, she posted her ‘rather depressing’ artwork through a photo-sharing site Instagram. Even after her death, questions remain unanswered as to why she committed suicide. If those adults could’ve known better, would her suicide be prevented? It was nobody’s fault, honestly. She couldn’t be blamed either. Julia was gone already. People around her couldn’t be blamed either. They didn’t see it coming. If only they could understand her, if only they didn’t underestimate her just because she’s a teen, would that change everything? If truly she did live a happy life, why would she commit suicide? Is it because of the demands being brought by showbiz? Or is it because of social media? But what about peer pressure? No one knows exactly why.

                According to Randy Dellosa, teens commit suicide because they feel extremely lonely, desperate and helpless. That is why parents have to do their best to warn, protect and advise their children regarding this matter as most young people lack emotional resilience. They cannot face frustration, rejection or any kind of failure. Thus parents and/or adults should better understand that these young people are more vulnerable that what they thought. They should stop looking at these teens as if they’re actual adults when in reality, they’re young adults. There’s a difference between the two. Adults should also stop comparing their generation to our generation. Both generations have different types of hardships to go through. If they want to avoid the number of suicide cases to increase and to make a troubled teen feel comfortable when approaching them, adults should be gentle. They don’t have to force a kid to tell them his/her problem. In other words, they have to let us, teenagers, know that they’re there to be beside us. In that way, teens will be comfortable talking out their problems to an adult or their parents.

The Face of the Philippine Politics by Jeff Navarro

            In times of great evil, we are often reminded of Epicurus, who famously questioned the notion of an omnipotent God. Epicurus argued: “If God is unable to prevent evil, then he is not all-powerful; if God is not willing to prevent evil, then he is not all-good; and if God is both willing and able to prevent evil, then why does evil exist?” Indeed, the answer is that if God designed a perfect world for each one of us, then there would be no value to human freedom. Precisely, we have to learn from our mistakes, suffer from the consequences of ill-fated decisions, but most of all, the reflexive attitude toward human action means we must not commit the same mistake over and over again. This, however, is not true in the Philippine Politics. Our political leaders are still in their usual debates and politically motivated investigations.

            In the Philippines, politics is always about the glamour of public office. In 2010 we saw President Aquino as some silver bullet delivered from above, thanks to the death of a democratic icon, Corazon Aquino, yet what we have seen so far is that the job of cleaning the terrible mess of corruption is next to impossible. They say that JejomarBinay have been using us, the people, for his own needs and ignoring what we need the most. It shows that their masks they have worn to win are not the masks they are using to help.

            Many bright academians feel the politics is nothing but a chaotic phantasmagoria. For them, it is a hopeless case. Those who say that there is a light at the end of the tunnel are actually outside of it. They want nothing about political engagements. The poor, in this regard, have two problems: Many good men, such as the townspeople I have lived with, who refuse to get involved in designing a better country for our children, and plenty of evil politicians like Binay who continue to bully their way into the future of this nation by way of political machinations.

            Theorists in this country talk about all inclusive growth, yet one government think tank is recommending relaxing minimum wage regulations in order to solve the high rate of unemployment. That suggestion is not even a Band-aid solution, it does not fix anything nor does it heal, it simply hides the real problem by artificially improving employment numbers. People do not need just jobs. People need jobs that are sustainable, that will give them the capacity to send their children to school and afford healthcare.

            In 2010, we put a lot of faith in Politicians. We were wrong. It was a mistake. A mistake that cannot be undone. However, while the courage to be is still preferred over falling into the abyss of despair, I suppose we have to change the way we see things. We have to encourage civil society to heighten discussions of public ussues rather than recommend political heroes. The face of Philippine Politics has not changed. Not because we still have the same maniacal leaders in office, but because many Filipinos have remained in the dungeons of human poverty.

Suicide by Kyle Supan

                 Over 800,000 people die due to suicide every year and there are many more who attempt suicide. Hence, many millions of people are affected or experience suicide bereavement every year. Suicide occurs throughout the lifespan and was the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds globally in 2012. Suicide is a global phenomenon in all regions of the world; in fact, 75% of global suicide occurred in low- and middle-income countries in 2012. Suicide accounted for 1.4% of all deaths worldwide, making it the 15th leading cause of death in 2012. Effective and evidence-based interventions can be implemented at population, sub-population and individual levels to prevent suicide and suicide attempts.

                Teens commit suicide because they feel extremely lonely, desperate and helpless. Perhaps they had a problem for which they felt there was no solution and that there was no one to help them. Suicidal teens usually suffer from major depression which makes them have a dark and gloomy mindset. Depressed teens usually give warning signs about their suicidal thoughts. World Health Organization states that in the last forty-five years the suicide rates have risen by 60% worldwide and is one of the leading causes of death in teenagers and basically people between the ages of fifteen to forty-five. They also mention that suicide is just the result of one problem but a combination of complex socioeconomic, personal and interpersonal situations. They have reported that nearly 30% of all suicides occur in India and China.

                 In times parents are creating comprehensive comparisons from another person, especially negative ones, that’d feel like they’ve lost the purpose of living and loses self-actualization and therefore depresses them socially. The kinds of problems that teenagers face may be different from those of adults, but the problems are very real to the teens who are facing them. Teenagers face the pressures of trying fit in socially, to perform academically, and to act responsibly. Teens are given more freedom which means more responsibility that they are sometimes not ready to handle. If a teen is facing a problem and has nobody to talk to, they may feel neglected, unwanted, and alone. If a teen continues to encounter their problems alone, they may become overwhelmed and think that suicide is the only way out.A 1987 study by Wodarski and Harris linked the increase in suicides in America to the proliferation of single-parent households. And a 1988 study of 752 families found that youths who attempted suicide differed little in terms of age, income, race and religion, but were "more likely to live in non-intact family settings." Recently a Flinders University professor of social sciences reported that research shows a very close link between suicidal behavior and parent-child relationships. Psychologists from the University of Leiden conducted a study of nearly 14,000 Dutch adolescents between the ages of 12 to 19. They found that slightly more than 10 per cent of the adolescents living in non-intact families reported having attempted suicide, compared to 5.3 per cent of peers living in intact families.

                Broken families are increasing in counts. Teens who are in the hands of single parents or separated couples have high tendency of being emotionally unhealthy thus make them feel like they are not as gifted as others are in their lives. And consider their lives a waste. Children from broken homes are more likely to be plagued by suicidal thoughts in later life than those with a more stable past, research shows. The study of thousands of adults also found that boys are more profoundly affected by seeing their parents’ marriage crumble than girls. The Canadian researchers questioned 6,647 men and women, including almost 700 who had been under the age of 18 when their parents divorced. This revealed the men from broken homes to be three times as likely to have thought seriously about suicide as those whose parents had stayed together. The link was strongest in men who had witnessed the effects of unemployment, violence and drug addiction as they grew up. But even those without such a troubled past were twice as likely to have suicidal thoughts at some point in their lives, if their parents had divorced. Lead researcher Esme Fuller-Thomson, of the University of Toronto, said: ‘The association between parental divorce and suicidal thoughts in men was unexpectedly strong, even when we adjusted for other childhood and adult stressors, socioeconomic status, depression and anxiety.

If you see mild warning signs, asking your teen if he or she is depressed or thinking about suicide can be helpful. Such questions filled with love and concern will provide assurance that you care and will give them the chance to talk about their problems. Get them to commit to you that if they ever do have those thoughts, they'll let you or someone else know.  If your teen doesn't feel comfortable talking with you, suggest a more neutral person, such as another relative, a counselor, a pastor, a coach, or your child's doctor. It's important to keep the lines of communication open and express your concern, support, and love. If your teen confides in you their loss of hope or control of their life, show that you take those concerns seriously. It's important not to minimize, mock or discount what your teen is going through, as this can increase his or her sense of hopelessness.

Stop Suicide

            Suicide is an act of taking one’s life. It is also a selfish act where you don’t mind other people’s feelings. Depressed people mostly want to die directly just because of their problems. It is just a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

            Suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death. Thousands of people commit suicide just because of cyber bullying, the daily problems that all of us are facing, lack of attention and etc. One example is Whitney Houston committed suicide because of drugs. She was found dead in her hot tub in the hotel she was staying. Some suicidal are not the cause of problems but often cause of drugs.

            It is the 3^rd leading cause of death for ages 15-24. They commit suicide just because of stress, work or school problems, and their love life. Isn’t that childish? Just taking their life because of problems with many solutions? Most of them are teenagers where they think that no one can help them at their problems and think suicide is the only solution.

            Suicide rates have increased for people who were middle-aged and older adults. Most news that I have researched about the sudden deaths of people was because of cyber bullying, love problems and other problems that all of us are facing every day. One example is Amanda Todd who committed suicide when she was 15 years old. She committed suicide because of cyber bullying. Because of the embarrassment they give to her, she decided to take her own life. She committed suicide because she thought it was the only solution.

            Sometimes the reasons of people who committed suicide were because of people who hurt them physically and mentally. Sad but true. But suicide was not the right solution for their problems. You can express your feeling to them. You can talk to them calmly. If you still respect yourself then don’t commit suicide. Therefore, suicide isn’t the right solution to all of your problems. Suicide should be stopped.

DELINQUENTS TO SPEND JAIL TIME by Valerie Aldridge

            Some people say jail is not the right place for children who disobey the law to stay because it’s a dull and negative environment. Some people even say a child could just be an accomplice of a bigger person. So how come unlawful children should remain in prison despite the Special Child Protection Act?

             Republic Act. No. 9344, an act establishing a comprehensive juvenile justice and welfare system, creating the juvenile justice and welfare council under the Department of Justice, appropriating funds therefore and for other purposes. It states that children are not to be abused and or neglected inspite of the Special Child Protection Act. But it also states that justice is to be served. A person who commits crimes are criminals, young or old. If a child can kill, then so can an adult. If a child who disobeys the law is left without justice then chances are that child could do it again. Jails provide discipline that is mostly needed by children. If a child is disciplined then that child can identify what is right from wrong. So a child can be imprisoned but with proper surveillance.

            No criminal should get away with their crimes even if that person is just a child who is an accomplice of a bigger person. Most cases show that the mastermind bribes children into doing their dirty work. When the child accepts the bribery, that means that child agreed to all the tasks given by the head. So that child agrees to committing crime. It is also possible for the mastermind to bribe the child with drugs to do certain tasks. A Florida mom and dad were arrested for allegedly bribing their kids to do their chores and do well in school. According to Gawker, Joey and Chad Mudd were arrested on Monday after they allegedly told police that they bribe their two daughters with drugs to get them to do their chores and do well in school. Justice is to be served to both mastermind and children.

            Children may not be so innocent after all. There are cases all over the world that include children involved in gruesome murders and theft. One of the cases happened on June 1, 2004, an 11-year-old schoolgirl, best known as "Girl A", murdered her 12-year-old classmate, Satomi Mitarai, in an empty classroom during lunch at an elementary school in Japan. In the attack, Girl A slit Mitarai's throat and arms with a utility knife. She then left Mitarai's body at the murder scene and returned to class with her clothes covered in blood. Girl A wasn’t sent to prison because Japan doesn’t take minors to jail. Everybody may have violent impulses but obviously this girl can’t control it. Since she’s free, this uncontrollable impulse of hers may return which may lead her to do another violent action. If this law continues, children will depend on the law to liberate them even if their crime is mature enough to let the doer sent to prison. Children may abuse this law and go on doing violent and abusive actions.    

            Therefore, a child who commits crime should stay in jail but with proper surveillance. A child who accepts tasks from a mastermind is willing to do the dirty job. Children can be capable of making decisions and doing things on their own will. If a child criminal were to escape, chances are that child is influenced by wrong doings which makes him or her even more dangerous. Parents of these children might be the reason why they turned out to be that way, their parents should do their part and raise their children right to avoid any illegal incidents.