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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Guevarra bares 'alarming rise' in suicides; calls on spiritual leaders to provide counsel for the depressed

Guevarra bares 'alarming rise' in suicides; calls on spiritual leaders to provide counsel for the depressed

Published Aug 22, 2020 10:33 am

There has been an “alarming” rise in the number of suicides in the country during the pandemic, according to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, relating how he learned about this on Friday from National Task Force (NTF) COVID-19 Chief Implementor Carlito Galvez Jr.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO /MANILA BULLETIN)
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO /MANILA BULLETIN)

It is as such he is now appealing for "churches and spiritual leaders" to provide counsel to those suffering from depression "due to loss of employment or livelihood, anxiety of being afflicted with or dying from the dreaded disease, loneliness arising from isolation, and lack of hope for a return to their normal lives."

“I share Sec. Galvez’s concern and respectfully request our spiritual leaders to bring this much needed message of hope to our suffering countrymen in order to stave off more incidents of self-destruction,” Guevarra stated, noting he has already reached out to the Catholic Church, the Islamic community, and the Iglesia Ni Cristo, among others, to this end.

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