MORE assistance came for the eight students of Daanbantayan National High School who were traumatized by the suicides of three of their classmates.
Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale said she was glad the University of San Carlos (USC) sent a team to the area to help conduct stress debriefing for the eight students.
“They have an extension program. Some members of their psychology department went there yesterday (Friday),” she told reporters yesterday.
“We are happy the private sector is coming in because we have only one child specialist.”
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Last Thursday, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) assistant chief Rose Jao and child specialist Rose Gonato were sent to help the students. A team from the Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB) is also coming in.
Jao and Gonato went from house to house to check on each affected student. She said three of them told her they could hear a buzz in their ears telling them to take their own lives as well. Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro called her up seeking her help shortly after a boy and a girl, both 15, hanged themselves last Monday.
The eight students in third year reportedly became hysterical after learning of the suicides of their classmates. The girl was found hanging from the ceiling of her room. Her male cousin was found hanging from a tamarind tree outside his house.
Magpale said the mother of the 15-year-old boy seemed “inclined” to file complaints against the school.
“I told the (Department of Education) that if the mother, a social worker, comes to us, we cannot refuse help.” However, Jao of PSWDO, told reporters, “We didn’t ask. We are not into that. We are only after the welfare of the children.”