AN International Suicide Prevention Day rally and symposium attracted scores of persons at Black Bush Polder Secondary School,

Corentyne, Berbice last Monday.Speakers at the rally pleaded with stakeholders to become involved in reducing the mental health scourge which made Guyana achieve the highest suicide rate in the Caribbean.
During the three-hour programme, organised by the Mibicuri Community Developers, a report, titled ‘Suicide in Black Bush Polder’, and its findings were officially released by the United States (U.S.) Peace Corps Response Volunteer Michael Fallahay.
People who attended the rally and symposium were given an opportunity to sign a ‘Choose Life/No self-harm’ pledge.
In his compilation, Fallahay reported that, of the 101 households (comprising 496 residents) interviewed in North and South Mibicuri, the main reasons recorded for self-induced death were the inability to cope (97), domestic-relational problems (76), parents disapproving of their children’s boyfriends or girlfriends (25), alcoholism as a pattern (25), impulsivity (25), insufficient money to live on or to repay loans (18), easy access to agricultural pesticides/poisons (10), poverty/limited opportunities (9), manipulation to get what they want from parents (6) and Satan/the Devil tempting them to do it (three).

Primary preventions
As a mental health counsellor attached to the Mibicuri Community Developers for the past five months, Fallahay noted that the non-governmental organisation, which has identified some primary preventions, has recommended that access to lethal agricultural chemicals be restricted, and spirituality be promoted as essential to nurturing human life and as the primary resolution to suicide.
Additionally, he suggested that one needs to talk openly about death, suicide, permanence of death physically, life after death, reduce stigmatisation of mental illness and suicide, and encourage help-seeking behaviours.
It was also advised that persons access the readily available mental health and substance abuse treatment services, and that there be established more youth education and recreational activities, and places to keep youth occupied positively and better prepared for life.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), Mr. David Armogan, disclosed that while Region Six accounts for 16 percent of the country’s population, it has recorded a suicidal rate of 33 percent, of which the target group is aged between 15 and 24 years.
“We should be leading in infrastructural development, sports, academics, or entertainment. What a disgrace! We have a role to play; all must be involved, including the politicians, social and religious organisations. This is a serious mental health problem. No tablet or injection can help solve it,” he declared.
The former Chairman of the Berbice Regional Health Authority posited that the ease with which persons access pesticides needs to be reviewed, because pesticides should only be used by farmers to improve yields from their crops; but instead, pesticides are being consumed by the offspring of farmers to destroy themselves.
“We have to look at stringent methods. We may have to get a central bond which can be accessed by farmers only. We will have to look at recreational facilities, by ensuring that the playfields are in order. In addition, we can electrify those playgrounds, so youths and children can play at nights, as many are conscious of their colour,” he suggested.
Armogan, attacking religious organisations, maintained the necessity for greater spirituality, as the church of yesteryear played a greater role than it is doing in recent times. He said, too, that families must get back to the fundamentals of living, by finding time each day to sit and have discussions with their children.

Created equal
President of St. Francis Community Developers, Mr. Alex Foster, reminded the youths in the audience that they were created equal, with opportunities like any other person; and only they can prevent themselves from reaching the stars.
In his opinion, viewers of Indian movies are influenced to commit suicide as they see it. “But that is just a story line. When the star boy and girl gets up, life goes on. But when you commit suicide, there is no waking up. You die,” he explained.
The Food for the Poor representative urged that the movies be looked at in order to help themselves to cope with peer pressure.
“We have to instil hope by creating better role models and visionaries, who, along with stakeholders, will work together. Persons’ self-esteem needs to be lifted. You need to feel good about yourself, despite how you look,” Foster insisted.
He said at another forum that the target group will include parents, who often times drive their children to commit suicide.
Another speaker, headteacher Verma Jaunauth, revealed that five members of her immediate family succumbed to suicide. She admonished her listeners not to swear to secrecy.
She asked that a hotline be made available to residents, so that they can telephone someone whenever there is a crisis.
Other persons who made remarks included Flavio Rose of the U.S. Peace Corps, who requested that the success of the Mibicuri Community Developers be replicated throughout the country.
Community Leader Samuel Ledra challenged persons of East Indian ancestry to reduce the communication gap amongst their growing children.
Black Bush Secondary School student Rebecca Seegopaul, who would like to become a wife and mother, on signing the life choice pledge, promised to love, and not kill or harm herself on purpose.
She said if, at anytime, she thinks of harming herself or feels hopeless, she would seek the intervention of a counsellor, as she does not want to hurt her parents, siblings, pastor, friends and relatives.
Earlier, students from Mibicuri, Johanna and Yakusari, along with others of Black Bush Secondary, armed themselves with placards and banners highlighting the need to prevent suicide in their respective communities.