Guyanese men are more likely to commit suicide; this is according to statistics compiled by the Ministry of Health during the five year period 2003-2007.

There have been 946 suicides during this period with an average of 189 deaths per year. However, some 76% of the recorded suicides were males; an average of 150 men a year during the stated five-year period.

Minister of Health Leslie Ramsammy presented the statistics at a recent press conference, stating that they showed that suicide rates in Guyana have been constant for the past two decades recording figures slightly less or more than 200 deaths per year.

For the year 1988, Ramsammy said, 148 suicides were recorded but careful examination revealed that there was significant “under recording” by an estimated 30%. Therefore, the minister said the figure would then be adjusted to an approximate 192 suicides for that year which when compared to present figures would indicate that suicide rates have been “constant for a long period”.

According to the minister, the study was conducted over a five-year period so that relationships could be established between different groups of the population during several periods. Establishing these relationships, he explained, made it easier to identify those groups most affected, why this is and what can be done address this problem.

During the studied period, Ramsammy said, two children between the ages of 5 and 9 years were victims of suicide; one in 2003 and the other in 2006. Meanwhile, deaths varied between 3 and 8 for the age range 10 to 14 years. He pointed out that numbers began rising for the age ranges between 15 and 44 years.

The “bulk of suicides”, Ramsammy said, occurred in administrative Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). With the exception of 2003 Regions Four and Six competed for the highest numbers of suicides. However, the majority of suicide cases overall are from Region Six.

Ingestions of poisons and pesticides was the method used by most suicide victims during the five-year period while hanging accounted for a significant number of deaths as well.

Further, statistics also showed that East Indian Guyanese were most likely to commit suicide while 40% of all victims showed evidence of alcohol abuse.

The Health Ministry, Ramsammy promised, will attack suicide “from various fronts” this year. Depression, he explained, is among the factors that contribute to suicide and guidelines for its diagnosis and treatment will be developed by the Health Ministry.

Since such a significant number of suicide victims showed evidence of substance abuse, the minister said, special emphasis will be given to helping substance abusers and the ministry will also have to review and restrict access to poisons and pesticides.