Sen. Mark Villar —Photo from his office
MANILA, Philippines — Citing an increase in suicides in recent years, Sen. Mark A. Villar urges the government to act immediately to expand access to mental health services, strengthen prevention efforts, and provide adequate funding for mental health care.
“Our people deserve a healthcare system that treats mental health with the same urgency, respect, and dignity as physical health. The numbers are deeply concerning,” Villar said in his privilege speech in observance of Suicide Prevention Month.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Villar cited data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showing an alarming 3,379 deaths from intentional self-harm in 2024, up from 3,133 in 2023. From January to June 2025, the Philippine National Police also logged nearly 2,000 suicide cases.
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