Hello Everyone
I hope it’s been a good week for you all. The last few weeks I spoke about depression and where to go for help. I’ve had a suggestion, from a reader, to write about suicide this week. She said that it’s increasing throughout the country so it would be beneficial to write some basic information about Guyana, who is vulnerable and some advice on how to spot warning signs. Thank you for writing in and here goes.
What is suicide? This is the taking of one’s own life- it always results in death whereas a suicide attempt does not. Some people also experience suicide ideation which means they have thoughts of suicide but have never made an attempt or might not have a plan to.
Although it seems to be only completed by our Guyanese people, suicides are world -wide tragedies. Over 800,000 people die from suicide every year. However, as many of us have found out, Guyana has the highest suicide rate in the world. The world average is that 11 per 100,000 people will die from suicide while the rate in Guyana is 44 per 100,000 people. It is a sad and drastic lead and still a growing concern. Just to get a sense of how high that is – Trinidad is 13 and Barbados is 7 per 100,000 people respectively.
In Guyana, over 200 people die from suicide each year and many more attempt. Those who attempt can be differentiated between those who complete suicide. For example, Guyanese who attempt suicide are mostly between the ages of 12-18, female, Indo-Guyanese, single and have no children.
On the other hand, Guyanese who complete suicide are mostly between the ages of 20-49, male, married or accompanied, Indo- Guyanese and have children. However, both groups are likely to be from low- economic families and from Regions 2,3,4,5 and 6.

What reasons may cause an individual to want to end their lives? Some risk factors for suicide are:
– Family history of completed suicides
– Depression and other mental illnesses
– Alcoholism/ drug abuse
– History of sexual, verbal or physical abuse
– A physical illness / disability
– Easy access to means of which can be used for suicide
– Impulsive/ aggressive tendencies
– A loss (Relationship, job, loved one, social support)
However, it is most important to remember that the best predictor for a suicide attempt is a previous suicide attempt.
What is the biggest problem with this list? As always, they are all major occurrences in and around Guyana. Now, people who experience any of the above will feel sad at times, yes but how can we tell if they are actually considering ending their lives? These signs can be different among different ages.

Why are certain populations more vulnerable and how are the warning signs different?
Teenagers are more vulnerable to suicidal attempts due to the peer, parental and academic pressure that is constantly on them. Most feel pressured to succeed and are often pushed further than their own capabilities. They are young and haven’t fully developed effective coping skills and mechanisms, especially if they are from unstable homes.

Warning signs for this group would be:
– Isolation
– Often seeming sad
– Irritability
– Unusual neglect of appearance
– Increase in drug/alcohol use
– Loss of interest in activities they once loved
– Talking about suicide
Many believe that if people speak about ending their lives they are looking for attention and will not actually do it. That is a myth- many people verbally reach out for help.
The elderly are also a highly vulnerable community. This is due to many factors such as loss of loved ones, increased chances of physical illnesses/ disabilities as well as major life changes such as retirement and loss of independence.

Warning Signs for them would be:
– Stockpiling or saving medication
– Rushing to make a will
– Saying elaborate goodbyes
– Reading up or speaking more about death/dying.
We have also found that certain areas such as Berbice and Essiquibo experience more suicides than others. Even though Guyana has accumulated minimal official data as to why this is, there are some noticeable factors.
The most common means of suicide in Guyana is pesticide poisoning and these areas are predominantly farming areas. This speaks to the dangers of easy accessibility of means. On the other hand, what these persons do not have easy accessibility to is proper medical treatment.
I took part in a medical outreach in a small town in Berbice a few months ago. I met a man who had a piece of glass stuck in this eye for over a week. As there were no ophthalmologists in Berbice at the time and he was not afforded the opportunity to come to Georgetown, he suffered in pain all that time. Physical illness and chronic pain are also common causes of suicide.
There is also excessive use of alcohol/ drugs, a lack of activities available and a high rate of familial abuse in these areas- all common causes of suicidal attempts and completions.
Finally, there is the copy-cat effect. When individuals see that their family, friends and neighbours have chosen this route, it is common for them to follow suit.

What can we do as individuals?
At this point, everyone knows what the problem is but unfortunately not many know the solution. Instead of speaking about the number of suicides we have had this or previous weeks, let’s only speak of the helpline numbers. Instead of rates, change the conversation to warning signs so those around can help others. Let’s speak of the places that people can go to that will help their specific needs and situations. For example the psychiatric ward at GPHC for any mental illness such as depression or anxiety, Phoenix Recovery Project in Mon Repos for live- in drug rehabilitation or Help and Shelter Crisis Centre on Mandela Avenue if you are suffering from verbal, mental or physical abuse.
Parents, you play a vital role. I took part in a suicide prevention outreach in Berbice last weekend and got the opportunity to speak to a group of about 30 teenagers. I asked them if a personal problem ever occurred (ranging from a fight with a friend to pregnancy), who would they turn to? Every one of them said a friend – that they would be too afraid to tell their parents for a fear of verbal or physical abuse. It does not matter if they were all from Berbice or if your child wasn’t there. That is an accurate sample of mixed gender, ethnicities and ages which means that most Guyanese children will feel the same way.
I asked the children whether they would confide in their teachers and the answer remained the same. This speaks to the importance of abolishing corporal punishment in schools because if children are afraid of their parents and teachers, who is there to turn to? Yes, they have friends but 13-18 year old peers are not equipped to handle many situations. Verbal and physical abuse ensures that you will very rarely know what is going on with your child and be able to help.
When there is no person to turn to, children usually turn to alcohol, drugs, law breaking activities, the wrong crowd, school drop- out and then often enough, suicide. Be there for your children. Allow them to feel comfortable coming to you with any problem. It is possible to discipline children and young adults without verbal and physical abuse.
The media- you play one of the biggest roles of all.
The media is one of the most important things within our society – it’s our main source of information and most trust it as accurate information. However, the truth is- sometimes it’s not and the stories that are being reported really shouldn’t be. Yes, everyone has a job to do and Guyanese must be aware of what’s going on around them. However, when a person is a victim of suicide, at no point should their name, picture, address, means, reasons why or any other personal details be printed in the media. This is unfair to the families, the deceased and to all others who may be experiencing the same problem and now views suicide as a possible solution as others have chosen that path.
I urge the media to do the same. Instead of putting these stories on the front page, kindly put the Suicide Prevention Helpline numbers instead. Write front page articles on warning signs and places to go for help rather than the individual who ended their life. This is a small step toward making a big difference.
Everyone needs to remember that suicide is not the answer nor the end- it is only the end of finding a solution to your problems – and believe me – there are always solutions.

Thank you again to all who read and write in each week. Next week I will write about what it’s like being a friend or family member of an alcohol/ drug abuser. Addiction is a family problem and it affects everyone which means – it is not only the abuser who needs help.
Say Yes to life and No to drugs! Always!