???????? ???????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????, ????????. ???????????????? ????. ????????????????????????????, ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????? ????????????????????????????, ???????????????????????????????? ????????.
A cold body slumped on the floor of their comfort room with an end-cut rope tightened around his neck was how Fe Fullero found his grandson, John Mark Royales, inside their house last December 3 around 4:30 in the afternoon.
“???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????? ????????????????????… ???????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? ????????????????????????????, ???????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? ????????????,” Lola Fe said in an interview.
Baffled about his motive in taking his own life, the 19-year old college student called by many as “JM” was described by his relatives as a responsible student, an active church youth ministry member, and a loving brother of his two siblings.
“???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ????????, ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????? ????????????????????… ???????????????????? ???????????????????? ?????????????????????????” Lea Barrios, John Mark’s aunt said.
According to his relatives, JM’s life traversed a lot of trials and humps. At the age of four, his parents separated, leaving him and his two other siblings with their mother, who then passed away in 2016 due to asthma. Since then, Lola Fe took care of them.
As a student, JM was known to be persistent in finishing his studies to help his siblings finish their own once he graduated and started earning income through his work.
“???????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ????????????-???????????????? ????????, ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????? ????????????-????????????????, ????????????-???????????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ‘???????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? ????????????????????????????,” Lola Fe said.
When asked about the signs they might have noticed with JM about committing suicide, Lola Fe said that she often sees JM crying alone late at night but doesn’t answer whenever he’s asked why.
“???????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ????????????-???????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????????????? ????????????????????????????… ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ????????????????, ???????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????? ????????????????????????????????,” Lola Fe said.
They also shared that JM’s Professor in Understanding the Self, Prof. Maximino Cortez informed them about the past outputs of his student in his subject that seems to be peculiar.
“???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????? ????????????????. ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? [????????????????. ????????????????????????], ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ????????????????????????????????????????. ???????????????? ‘???????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????? ‘???????????????? [???????????????????? ????????] ???????????????????????????????? ???????? ????????????????????????????, ???????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????? [????????] ‘???????????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ????????????????????????????????,” Aunt Lea said.
The COVID-19 Pandemic limited social interactions among people, especially the students. According to early findings from an international survey of children and adults in 21 countries previewed in The State of the World Children 2021 conducted by the UNICEF, a median of 1 in 5 young people aged 15–24 said that they often feel depressed or have little interest in doing things during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Data also shows that at least 1 in 7 children globally was directly affected by lockdowns, while more than 1.6 billion children have suffered some loss of education.
With the disruption to routines, education, recreation, and concern for family income and health, many young people feel afraid, angry, and concerned for their future.
“???????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????? [‘???????????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????? ????????] ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????? ????????. ????????????????????????…” Aunt Lea said, encouraging students who suffer from depression to speak and seek help from their relatives.
She also reminded parents and guardians like her to keep in touch with their children, especially in these trying times.
“???????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ????????????????????????????, ???????????????? ???????? ‘???????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ‘???????????????? ????????????????… ???????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???? ???????????????? ????????????????,” she added.
National Mental Health Crisis Hotline: https://doh.gov.ph/NCMH-Crisis-Hotline