A recent study suggests that suicide in Guyana is linked to poor coping skills and a cycle of violence that includes murder-suicide, interpersonal violence, corporal punishment and child sexual abuse.
“These are inextricably linked, fueling one another, and are amplified by predominant notions of masculinity, family dysfunctions, sexual inequality and alcohol abuse—all of which are major catalysts for the poor coping strategies found across ethnic groups,” the Guyana Foundation said in a press release yesterday, announcing the findings.
The study of underlying economic and social factors driving the high prevalence of suicide and suicidal behaviour in Guyana was conducted by researcher Serena Coultress, who gathered data from suicide attempters, religious leaders and mental health professionals. Coultress, a researcher in the Global Health programme