THIS IS a five-part series that seeks to bring awareness to the issue of Suicide, even as we observe World Suicide Prevention Day today.

TODAY, all around the world is an extremely special day. Although many of you are grieving today, I encourage you to view this as a day to celebrate life, resilience and hope. Hope for those who have survived attempts and hope for their recovery. This is also a day to appreciate those survivors and all others who dedicate their lives to awareness and prevention.

The issue of suicide is not a simple one to consider because, within our culture, we have difficulty broaching it. However, suicide is an inescapable public health issue; one that still holds undeniable stigma within our community. Every human being is vulnerable to mental illness and suicidal thoughts, so it is my hope that this series brings awareness, understanding, compassion and strength to have life-saving discussions and reach out for help.

Suicidal feelings and behaviours don’t just affect the depressed but everyone around them.

Please take some time to explore with me, an issue that has been discriminated against for far too long. The survivors and family members who will share their stories over the course of the next five weeks are real people who have been through the unimaginable and want their voices to be heard. Thankfully, they have chosen this forum to educate, engage and allow us to see them as fellow human beings.

This series will cover the following topics:
• Facts pertaining to suicide (both globally and in Guyana.)
• Warning signs of suicide
• Testimonials from family members and friends who’ve lost someone to suicide
• Risk factors of suicide
• Testimonials from persons who’ve survived suicidal thoughts and attempts
• Preventative measures

All statistical information was taken from World Health Organisation (WHO), Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the Drug Information Network.

FACTS ABOUT SUICIDE
While it seems most widespread in our country, suicide is a world- wide issue. The World Health Organisation has determined the world average of suicide to be 16 per 100,000 people. Over one million people take their own lives globally every year- this works out to about 1 life every 40 seconds.

Sadly, Guyana’s suicide rate is 29 per 100,000- well above the world average.
Before April of this year, Guyana had the highest suicide rate in the world at 44 per 100,000. Our nation is now ranked fourth in the world behind Sri Lanka, Lithuania and the Democratic People’s Republic (North) of Korea.

Still, approximately 200 people end their own lives every year in Guyana.
Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) have the highest suicide rates in the country. Females attempt suicide up to four times more than males but males are more successful in their attempts. The majority (approximately 80 percent) of suicides happen within the Indo-Guyanese community. The most affected groups are between the ages of 20-49.

While the suicide rate in Guyana has decreased, our awareness and prevention efforts should not. It is not the time to get confident or complacent, but rather a time to further our efforts as they have proven to be effective.

Every child, student, parent, teacher, police officer, nurse, social worker and community member of any kind who has disseminated information throughout our country deserves congratulations and recognition. Guyana’s declining suicide rate is your victory.

WARNING SIGNS OF SUICIDE
It is important to remember that every single suicide is a tragedy; a tragedy that unfortunately grabs everyone’s attention when it is too late. However, suicide is preventable if we are aware of (and pay close attention to) the universal warning signs, most of which are emotional and behavioural.

Behavioural signs include a change in physical appearance, isolation, increased use of alcohol/drugs, recklessness and disruptive changes in eating or sleeping patterns. Those who are thinking of suicide lose interest in previously enjoyed activities, talk about death or dying often, may give away their belongings, say elaborate goodbyes and/or noticeably begin to put their affairs in order. A suicidal person may lose interest in appearance or even personal hygiene. Self-harm such as cutting/burning the skin can be another warning sign. Many people do this in order to prevent their own suicide but it means they have considered it.

Emotionally, a suicidal person may experience anxiety, seem unusually depressed, have little energy, become easily irritated or enraged or express feeling hopeless/ helpless. Their mood changes can be very sudden. They may express feelings of loneliness, self-hatred and shame. Many people tell me that they do not want to bring up suicide in the fear that they may put the thought in the person’s head. This is untrue as you will not make a person suicidal by showing concern. Instead, your concern provides a platform for emotional release for the individual.

TESTIMONIALS
I counsel suicidal individuals every day and while I cannot understand everything they are feeling, I have a fair idea of what’s on their mind. I know that most feel like a burden on their families and that everyone around them would be happier if they were gone. They develop such feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. They come to genuinely believe they won’t be missed or that their death would have no impact.

Nothing could be further from the truth according to everyone I have ever spoken to who has lost a loved one to suicide. Some of those have bravely decided to share the stories of their loss.
The stories that will be shared over the next few weeks are true accounts from those who have lost their fathers, brothers, friends and aunts. They share their stories hoping to make a difference.

The following story was written by Amy Young who lost her aunt to suicide.
“Suicide is often talked about like an anomaly; a rare and extraordinary tragedy, yet, it’s incredibly common. However, I never thought it would be common for me. I never thought I would know anyone who would commit suicide or even think about it, let alone my favourite person in the world.

I was a typical 26-year-old living a completely contented life until one phone call changed it forever.
The devastating call came on January 31st at 11:55 hrs bringing the news that my Aunt Beda had died. Before even having a second to properly process this news, my heart was broken and my face was wet. Dead? What do you mean? Dead? My Aunt Beda? Impossible. No. There was a horrific mistake. What happened? They told me she drank poison.

Aunt Beda, one of my mom’s youngest sisters, had been in my life for as long as I could remember. She teased me, bought me treats, played with me, loved me and most of all made me feel so special. She defended me to my mother and protected me when I misbehaved. She tried every day to make me happy and keep me laughing. She was so funny and I think what I miss most of all are her nicknames for people and her laugh; it was so infectious.

My aunt had trials and tribulations in her life, like every other person. I heard whispers that she wasn’t feeling well and that she was depressed but I never saw it. Around me, she was always happy and spirited; around me, she was always joking and ready to play tricks on people.

I don’t know what she was feeling, what pain she was carrying with her, or why she thought that suicide was the only way to be rid of it. Or whether, maybe, she meant for her act to be a cry for help. I wish I would have paid more attention, maybe spent more time with her. Maybe I could have seen the signs or talked to her and showed her that the world and I would not be the same without her.

My aunt’s reunited her whole family. Her brothers and sisters who hadn’t come home to Guyana in decades came back for one reason. Her. Her son and the daughter-in-law she never met also returned. I don’t think I ever saw him cry, except for that day. It’s disappointing that she never got to meet her grandson and the granddaughter who is named after her. Man, they would have loved her. I wish my aunt would have told us what she was really going through and expressed to us that this was the way she felt.

I wish she knew how much we loved her. That we would have done anything to help her through whatever she was going through and we would never have left her in her time of need.

My Aunt Beda committed suicide on her sister’s birthday. My other aunt had just gotten flowers and was in the yard playing with her dogs when she got that call that would change her birthday and every other birthday forever. She still doesn’t celebrate her birthday on that day. We have to call her the day before or after. Her birthday is painful for her. I wish she could instead remember all the good times they had on that day.

I don’t know if my Aunt Beda knew how special she was or how special she made me feel. I wish I could have done that for her. She was my mother’s sidekick and they were in constant contact. My mother still has a hole in her heart and maybe even regrets not being able to ‘save her’. My mom has never recovered from losing her sister and best friend.

Sometimes you feel guilty for going on with life and laughing and having a good time. But not a day goes by that I don’t wish she was here with me, teasing me; telling me jovially how I was a bad, rude child who use to curse everyone I saw. Not a day goes by that my heart doesn’t break when I think, “Man I wish she were here.”

I know suicide victims have much pain and sadness but I don’t think they realise that when they get rid of their pain and sadness, their family and friends get that pain and sadness. I have to live every day of my life without her. Her grandchildren can never get to meet her.
My mother probably won’t laugh as hard again without her.”