A FOUR-day National Suicide Prevention Conference geared at equipping participants with the requisite tools to roll back the number of suicide cases in Guyana opened on Tuesday at the St Francis Community Developers Headquarters, Rose Hall Town, East Berbice, Corentyne.
The conference facilitated by the US Embassy in Guyana, Florida National Guard and the St Francis community Developers, provided participants with insight into various suicide research and suicide prevention methodologies.
It saw participation from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana Police Force, NGOs, and residents, among others.
US Embassy Deputy Chief of Missions, Terry Steers-Gonzalez, who declared the conference opened, said it was birthed out of a promise made by US Ambassador Perry Holloway during a meeting with President David Granger to tackle suicide.
“Suicide and its effects on the broader society, families and communities is a tragedy for all of us but no one knows this better than the community of Guyana since it has the highest suicide rate in the world. It is because of that unfortunate distinction that Ambassador Holloway’s first meeting with President David Granger saw this as a topic of conversation and a commitment was made at that meeting and has been made over the last couple of years, to partner with Guyana in addressing this threat and this challenge.”
According to the Guyana National Health Sector plan, Guyanese are among the healthiest in the Caribbean and the Americas, and the diplomat pointed out that mental disorders are preventative and can be effectively tackled thought sound partnership.
“The partnership that we have forged and the partnership that will continue in the years to come on this important issue all of you know and have been alluded to already; that partnership has a special role between our Florida National Guard and the Guyana Defence Force. They were here previously where they focused on interactive discussions on essential preventative suicide topics, building connection between community leaders and members, thinking tracks and identifying potential problems and noticing depression,” the Deputy Chief of Missions said.
ANYONE CAN BE VICTIM
He said no section of society is immune to suicide, pointing out that the GDF has lost 17 soldiers in the past four years to suicide.
With supportive measures, he said many of these suicides are preventable.
“Unfortunately, many children and young people makes up a large percentage of overall number of suicide worldwide, and in fact, Guyana’s schools, social care and juvenile justice system, as well as charities, which highlight problems such as bullying, poor body image, lack of self-esteem, all have an important role to play or to contribute, to make the suicide rate go down, among these vulnerable population,” Steers-Gonzalez said.
Meanwhile, St Francis Community Developers President, Alex Foster, said often times the topic of suicide is not discussed in most households since many families are in denial and do not believe they can be affected by this social ill.
His organisation has decided to tackle suicide not as an independent matter but as an incorporated activity in daily delivery of services.
“This is because we realise when we integrate suicide activities into our everyday services we will eliminate the stigma and discrimination associated with persons trying to access our services,” Foster said.
The conference will conclude today and participants will be awarded certificates for their participation.