Youths with Suicidal Attempts: Their Lived Experiences

This study is delved focusing on the exploration of the lived experiences of the youth with suicidal attempts in Cagayan de Oro City and come up with an intervention program that may help the youth internalize their worth as an individual and encourage one another to eventually cease in committing suicide and make them realize that there are a lot of things life could offer. A transcendental phenomenological approach was used in the study. This study utilized ten (10) research informants who were known and identified as one of the youths who attempted to commit suicide between ages below 15 and 18 years old. It was conducted in Cagayan de Oro City, specifically at Capitol University College of Criminology, Audio Visual Room (AVR). The researcher utilized interview guides in the conduct of the individual personal in-depth interview. Thematic content analysis was used in the treatment of the collected data. The researcher generated four (4) themes from the lived experiences of the informants as youth who attempted to commit suicide, namely: Aloof Personality, Financial Distress, Parental Rejection, and Societal Influence. As to the coping mechanism of the informants from committing and attempting suicide, the latter formulated two (2) themes, namely: Familial Support and Positive Outlook. It was recommended that the government should address the behavioral problems and the importance of family aspects in the country, which are the main causes of the youth engaging in attempted suicide. Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) and City Health Office (CHO) should also formulate programs and wellness assistance like seminars and trainings to the identified youth who were engaged in attempted suicide together with Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA), in which it will be conducted to fight and prevent suicide in the country. The government may consider forming a counseling committee that will thoroughly study and eventually apply the “Rebuilding Self-Worth Program” as the study suggests for an Intervention Program. And lastly, for the schools and universities that are offering a Criminology Program, they may also help in giving ways to solve the issue through adapting the concept of training and seminars identified for the youth, which are also applicable for their students who are stressed. They can also create seminars related to juvenile delinquency, human behavior, and victimology, more specifically on the rights of the child and the responsibilities of the parents.