The Department of Justice (DoJ) is now calling on churches and spiritual leaders to help the government after the sudden increase in suicide cases during the height of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
According to Justice Sec. Menardo Guevarra, Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) national task force Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez allegedly called him himself to convey the sad news.
As a result, Guevarra is now asking priests and spiritual leaders to assist in counseling and guidance to their members and followers who are now experiencing depression.
This is also due to the loss of their jobs, income, there is also the fear of being caught by a deadly virus.
Apart from this, most Filipinos today also experience loneliness due to isolation and the lack of hope that their lives will return to normal.
Guevarra hopes for the cooperation of priests and church leaders to give a message of hope to those who are suffering in this country today to alleviate and cope with more incidents of self destruction.
“I received a phone call today from sec carlito galvez, chief implementor of the IATF national task force, regarding the alarming increase in the number of suicides during these pandemic times. he is seeking the help of our churches and spiritual leaders in providing counsel and guidance to their members and followers who are undergoing 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 more incidents of self-destruction, ”Guevarra said.
