EXECUTIVE Director of the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), Mrs. Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth feels that more needs to be done for youths struggling with suicidal feelings than the usual workshops and street walks.
These efforts do not actually translate into helping such youths, she observed, and so concrete measures ought to be put in place to deal with the upsurge that the country has been experiencing recently.

‘BOTTOM HOUSE’ TALK
As such, GRPA is currently streamlining several initiatives to do its part in fighting the social issue. These include going into streets and villages and conducting ‘bottom house’ conversations with youths; conducting sessions with parents; setting up a hotline number; and partnering with the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) to put up more billboards on the issue.

CULTURAL ISSUES
Sheerattan-Bisnauth further noted, in an interview with Guyana Chronicle, that certain cultural issues have been playing a major role in the suicide epidemic. Therefore, the GRPA plans to give priority to certain specific communities in the country.

According to her, although numerous cases have been reported in the press, there are still many more suicide cases that she is personally aware of that did not make the news. “Everyone is going on a walk and no sense in the seminars. Sometimes we have to go to these people. They won’t come out or tell us their problems on the phone.”

Just last month, five females were hospitalised at Suddie Hospital on the Essequibo Coast after attempting to commit suicide, bringing the overall cases in Region Two to 11 for the year so far. This follows another two suicides that claimed the lives of 23-year-old Akel Shurland of Adventure and 27-year-old Kaimwattie Persaud of Anna Regina.

Meanwhile, President David Granger recently convened an emergency meeting with several government ministers on the issue of suicide, and this was followed by a plan of action that will see non-governmental organisations (NGOs), religious organisations and other civil society bodies working collaboratively with government on a centralised approach to suicide prevention.

President Granger has indicated that he intends to have a proactive approach in addressing this issue, and will be looking to implement a national programme that has measurable outcomes.

NATIONAL STRATEGY
During the meeting, the President was also updated on the implementation of Guyana’s National Suicide Prevention Strategy, launched by the Ministry of Public Health last September with a view to ramping up government’s response to the ongoing problem.
In addition, the President was provided with updates on work that is being done within the other subject Ministries.