Guyanese now have the opportunity to tackle suicide head-on with the launching of a suicide prevention skills training programme.
The programme was launched by PATOIS (Personal Achievement to Overcome Individual Struggles) and is aimed at persons who are most likely to encounter potential suicide victims.
In an interview with Stabroek News, Ingrid Goodman, Executive Director of PATOIS, explained that the programme is a much-needed one in Guyana. She believes that the suicide is a mental disorder and is linked to poor socialisation.
“For a small country like this – for so many people to not be able to function on a daily basis – is saying something is wrong. At the root of it is culture,” Goodman said.
She continued, “These persons were not socialised so as a result of that when they can’t figure things out they act out because the world does not make sense to them. In a fast moving world like this, more and more folks are finding themselves left behind and just want to get out.”
According to Goodman, the training will teach its participants how to become gatekeepers – persons who recognise the warning signs that someone may be contemplating homicide or suicide.
“The training is not guided towards the victims but the gatekeepers, those around the victims,” she said.
She also noted that the training is ideal for government and non-governmental organisations as well as the police force. She added that teachers are also being targeted to register for the training.
Oftentimes, she said, a potential suicide victim will hint at his/her intention and early recognition of these signs can lead to the prevention of suicide.
“Many times, there is some type of mental disorder going on so within the assessment training you’ll catch something in the behaviour of the victim,” she said.
Goodman believes that much more education is needed in Guyana to tackle mental disorders. “We’re living in a society whereby we are not educated about anything concerning mental illness and suicide falls into that category. You cannot take suicide and isolate it into another category,” she further said.
Potential gatekeepers can schedule their training by registering at the Guyana Nurses Association Building on Charlotte and Alexander Streets, Georgetown. According to a release from PATOIS, gatekeepers include police officers, HIV counsellors, clergypersons, and nurses.
Goodman encouraged persons to get on board. “You can’t tell who is going to do what unless assessments are done,” she pointed out. “It’s preventative education; it’s about getting sensitised,” she added.
According to the WHO, Guyana is the nation with the highest suicide rate and suffers 44.2 suicides for 100,000 persons per year.
This figure is almost double what it was less than 10 years ago.
