Ramsammy reports that programmes to prevent suicide working
MINISTER of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has called on every citizen across Guyana to become gatekeepers in the fight against suicide, with a view to saving others’ lives..
He was speaking, last Friday, on the eve of World Suicide Prevention Day, at a candlelight twilight vigil, on the avenue in Main Street between Hotel Tower and COURTS (Guyana) Store, in Georgetown. In the gathering, too, were others from the Ministry of Health, non-governmental, faith-based and other civil society organizations and prayers were said by representatives of the Christian, Hindu and Muslim religions.
Noting the devastating impact of suicide deaths on Guyana, Ramsammy implored: “We have to ensure, as we hold these candles up tonight, that we will work with our brothers and sisters in Guyana, so that every citizen, everyone of our brothers and sisters, young and old, must know that, whilst they might have problems that seem overwhelming, there is help.”
Quoting World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics, he said, every year, almost one million people die from suicide, representing a global mortality rate of 16 such deaths per 100,000; 3,000 deaths every day or one every 40 seconds.
Suicide is among the three leading causes of death among those aged between 15 and 44 and the second major cause in the 10 to 24 years age group, the minister reported.
He observed that, of the approximate 20 million people around the world who attempt to take their lives each year, the majority are women, but, of those who actually succeed, the majority are men.
Alluding to the local situation, Ramsammy said that, on average, there are between 800 and 1,000 suicide attempts countrywide, with between 150 to 200 resulting in deaths.
“We must find a way to end the scourge in our own country,” he added.
Referring, specifically, to 2010, Ramsammy disclosed that for that year, there were between 800 and 1,000 attempts, with 160 of them succeeding.

Failed cases
Notwithstanding, Ramsammy stated that a  few hundreds of the attempted and failed cases still do not come to the attention of the ministry, meaning that the situation could be even more grave than meets the eye.
Of the unsuccessful attempts, he said, even though those may not have succeeded, families are, invariably, affected and suicide remains a very stigmatised problem. “Families are traumatized, but don’t like to talk about it.”
While pointing to a downward trajectory in the suicide figures for Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), in particular, he said the region is recorded to have the most suicide attempts and deaths nationally and he is still not satisfied that the problem is anywhere near being solved.
In reality, for the first six months of this year, Region Six has only reported 12 suicide deaths, as compared to 48 per year on average and 241 cases of attempted suicide.
The minister’s interpretation of that is: “At the rate of 12 in the first six months of the year, it confirms that the number is now approaching a downward trend.”
However, he said, that will occur only after many, many years of effort, contending that, in Guyana, for about the last ten years, the response has been whipped up.
As the Health Minister lit the first candle, setting the pace for others present to follow, he admonished the gathering: “We have to ensure we are holding these candles up, as an affirmation of our commitment that we will be gatekeepers.”
But to become a gatekeeper, he said one must be able to recognise the signs and signals in somebody’s life that makes them vulnerable, that places them at risk and point them to some place where they can get help.
Ramsammy commented on proactive action taken to stem the suicide tide so far, and said that some of the programmes the Ministry of Health introduced are working.
For example, there is a ‘suicide hotline’ introduced last November, on which persons on the brink of attempting can call health officials, share their problems and get help.

More calls
Introduced in November 2010, that has been working successfully, Ramsammy stated. Starting with about two calls, it now receives about ten calls per day (from 08:00 hrs to 20:00 hrs) and he is of the view that, should the hours he extended, there will be a lot more calls.
He cautioned against persons, neglecting to use the hotline facility, on the ground that their problem is personal and should not be shared with anybody, noting that there is help awaiting them.
Another successful response has been the ‘GateKeepers Programme’, which requires every citizen, regardless of age and status in the community, must become a gatekeeper.
“And so, we are providing that outreach. We are opening our arms, extending our support to people who need help,” Ramsammy assured.
He said, based on victims’ reactions when faced with the stark reality of being at death’s door, he is convinced that people who set out to commit suicide, do not really want to die.
“No one wants to die, but in a moment of being overwhelmed, they take actions that lead to ending life, sometimes, putting a permanent end to a temporary problem,” he declared.
Heartened by the success realised since the introduction of the ministry programmes, Ramsammy said: “In Guyana, we have begun to see that some dent is being made in the problem. For example, if you look, in the last three years, the average number of suicide deaths has been between 160 and 170 and, if you look at the three years preceding that, the average number of deaths was higher (180 to 200).”