A mentally challenged Corentyne woman consumed a poisonous substance on Saturday around 5 pm and succumbed on Monday.
Chandrawattee Sepulveda Quiroz, 51, of Number 69 Village, Corentyne ingested a poisonous substance shortly after returning from an appointment with a health professional.
According to relatives of Quiroz, she had suffered from a mental illness for a number of years. They noted that she recently began suffering from depression. Quiroz’s brother Surajpaul Rajpaul, 50, told Stabroek News, that he along with another sibling came into the country to take their sister to her medical appointment.
“We come to take her to the doctor…She was always saying she gone commit suicide… Me sister them take she and the doctor tell them to take precautions and suh, so them call and me take out all the knives and suh from the house, not knowing she hide the bottle with the poison”, the man lamented.
Rajpaul said they rushed his sister to the Skeldon Public Hospital where she received medical attention and was admitted.
However, on Monday morning the family made a decision to take Quiroz to a private doctor. Rajpaul noted that they thought doing so was in her best interest.
However, she was treated by the private doctor on Monday and was sent home. Rajpaul relayed that around 02:30 am Quiroz informed them that she was feeling “weak” after which she collapsed.
She was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Relatives described her as a woman who was “always on the go”. Her brother said, “Once she use she medication she okay, she go cook and go market and suh”. Quiroz leaves two sons to mourn.
According to a PAHO/WHO report, Guyana has the highest rate of suicide in the world. If you, or anyone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, you can contact the suicide helpline to receive assistance.
The Inter Agency Suicide Prevention Help Line can be accessed through the following:
Telephone: 223-0818, 223-0009 and 223-0001
Mobile: 600-7896 or 623-4444
Email: moc.oohay@ ycnegayug
BBM: 2BE55649 or 2BE56020
Twitter: @guyanaagency
Whatsapp: 600-7896 or 623-4444
Facebook: Guyana Interagency Suicide Prevention Help Line
