The Ministry of Health recently held a `gate keeper for suicide prevention workshop’ in Region Six.

In a press release the ministry said it was training 110 persons including religious leaders, teachers, farmers, police officers, community workers and agriculture workers. The sessions were held at the Albion Community Centre, Mibicuri Community Developers and the Corriverton Civic Centre.

These sessions were facilitated by three persons the ministry had trained as suicide prevention gatekeepers in March. The sessions were conducted by President of the International Association for Suicide Prevention Dr Brian Mishara.

Suicide is a serious public health issue in Guyana which averaged from 150 to 200 suicides per year from 2003-2007, the release said.

“There were 946 reported suicide deaths in Guyana which translates to a suicide rate of 25 per 100,000 persons,” it added. Eighty per cent of these deaths were males. Sixty per cent of all suicide deaths are attributable to pesticide poisoning.

Suicide is the leading cause of death among youth ages 15-24 and the third leading cause of death among persons 25-44. Among youth, ages 15-19 it is the leading cause of death among females and the second leading cause of death among males.

The ministry said the highest numbers of suicides are consistently found in regions four and six, compared with the rest of the country. Suicide rates are consistently high in Region Six with 50 suicide deaths per 100,000 persons followed by Region Two with 36 suicide deaths per 100,000 persons. In Region Three the rate is 24 per 100,000 persons followed closely by Region Five with 22 per 100,000 and Region Four with 20 suicide deaths per 100,000 persons.