The problem of suicide is a growing global problem and very few societies are not affected by it. Unfortunately it is one of the most complex problems and its causes are varied therefore to pinpoint a singular solution is impossible. Moreso, because it is a problem relating to the human mind, which is perhaps, the most complex phenomenon in the world. There is no single cause for which suicide can be directly attributed. Environmental factors, childhood upbringing, and mental illness each play a large role. Sociologists today consider external circumstances, such as a traumatic event, as a trigger instead of an actual independent cause. Suicides are more likely to occur during periods of socioeconomic, family and individual crisis. Most people with suicidal tendencies tend to suffer from some mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder, or some degree of anxiety disorder. These diagnosable mental disorders are associated with more than 90% of suicide victims. As a result, many researchers study the causes of depression to understand the causes of suicide.
Today, most social scientists believe that a society’s unity can influence suicide deaths. Emile Durkheim claimed that greater social integration translates to fewer suicides. Suicide rates among adults are lower for married people than for divorced, widowed, or single people, a statistic confirming Durkheim’s argument.
Although people with suicidal tendencies do not necessarily have greater life stress, they have  more difficulty coping with the stress that results. Suicide attempts usually follow a traumatic event.
Social influences such as economic cycles with high unemployment rates, influence of religion, acceptance, and peer pressure all play a factor. For example, suicide rates were abnormally high during the Great Depression in America.
Genetic and biological factors play a large role in suicide likelihood. Research has shown that suicidal behaviour runs in families. A notable example are the suicides of the Hemingway family in which five members committed suicide. In 1985, the American Journal of Medical Genetics studied an Amish community in Pennsylvania. The studies revealed that four families, representing only 16 percent of the total Amish population, accounted for 73 percent of all Amish suicides. Some scientists claim 10 to 15 genes account for triggering suicide attempts. Similarly how depression is linked genetically, family ties may also have a large effect on one’s suicide risk.
And so today many societies are struggling to cope with this problem and simultaneously devise strategies to help curb it. But global statistics show that it is a problem that is on the rise. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO):
* Every year, almost one million people die from suicide; a “global” mortality rate of 16 per 100,000, or one death every 40 seconds.
* In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide. Suicide is among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 years in some countries, and the second leading cause of death in the 10-24 years age group; these figures do not include suicide attempts which are up to 20 times more frequent than completed suicide.
* Suicide worldwide is estimated to represent 1.8% of the total global burden of disease in 1998, and 2.4% in countries with market and former socialist economies in 2020.
* Although traditionally suicide rates have been highest among the male elderly, rates among young people have been increasing to such an extent that they are now the group at highest risk in a third of countries, in both developed and developing countries.
* Mental disorders (particularly depression and alcohol use disorders) are a major risk factor for suicide in Europe and North America; however, in Asian countries impulsiveness plays an important role. Suicide is complex with psychological, social, biological, cultural and environmental factors involved.

In Guyana in recent years suicides have become a growing concern and against this backdrop the Ministry of Health and other social organisations have been working towards addressing it.
According to statistics from the Ministry, during 2003-2007, there were 946 reported suicide deaths in Guyana which translates to a suicide rate of 25 per 100,000 persons.
A most striking observation was that 80 percent of all suicides deaths are males and 60 percent of them are attributable to pesticide poisoning.
The statistics indicate that suicide is the leading cause of death among young people age 15-24 and the third leading cause of death among persons age 25-44.
Among youths, aged 15-19, suicide is the leading cause of death among females and the second leading cause of death among males.
Highest numbers of completed suicides are consistently found in Regions Four and Six when compared to the rest of the country.
Suicide rates are consistently highest in Region Six (50 suicide deaths per 100,000 persons) followed by Region Two (36 deaths).
Region Three has the third highest suicide rate in the country (24 deaths) followed closely by Region Five with 22 deaths and Region Four with 20 suicides.
In January 2010, five workshops were conducted by Dr. Brian Mishara. The workshops focused on developing clinical competencies of understanding suicide, including risk and protective factors, conducting a suicide risk assessment and using appropriate clinical skills to reduce suicide risk in an intervention with suicidal persons.
Four of the five workshops conducted in 2010, were conducted in Regions Two, Four and Six for doctors, nurses and medex.
The MOH has identified eight persons to become trainers in the programme and the certification of three persons as gatekeepers.
On June 8, 110 persons from Region Six were trained as gatekeepers for suicide prevention including religious leaders, teachers, farmers, police officers, community workers and agriculture workers.
The training was held at Albion Community Centre where persons from Lower and Middle Corentyne were targeted.
These are commendable initiatives to help combat the problem, however, it would be also useful if great attention is given to the situational circumstances that cause suicides and work is done to eliminate them.