Last Thursday, hundreds of students from Mabaruma in Region One came together to participate in a rally, aimed at raising awareness for youth suicide and suicide prevention.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, the rally which was convened under the theme, ‘Take a Minute, Change a life’ was held at the Mabaruma Primary School and saw invited speakers, including Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley stressing to students who may be struggling that they “are not alone.”
“Suicide does not end the chances of life getting worse, rather it eliminates the possibility of it ever getting better, and therefore, I want to encourage you that when the thoughts of committing suicide or ending your life comes, find someone who would take that minute to help you change your mind,” the release quoted the Regional Chairman as urging.
According to the release, he asked the students to place their hands over their heart as, “The beat of the heart tells you that you are here for a purpose. It tells you that the only way you can find purpose is not by dying. It is not by committing suicide, but by finding ways to face the challenges that may arise before us,” the release quoted him as saying.
The Regional Chairman also urged the students to learn the warning signs, watch for them, to be their brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, and look out for the depressed and vulnerable.
Minister within the Ministry of Public Health,
Dr. Karen Cummings who was also present at the rally, underscored how the government continues to intensify its effort towards reducing the suicide rate.
“Our government is committed to improving the lives of our people, and the President, His Excellency David Granger is a leading example, because he has ensured that there are timely interventions, and these timely interventions have led to improvement in our suicide rate, because we were number one in the world, but right now we are number three,” the release quoted the minister as saying.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), each year close to 800,000 people die due to suicide, which is the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds. Over the last five years, the data collected by the Ministry of Public Health indicate that most suicide cases are concentrated in the coastal areas. Regions 1, 7, 8, and 9 account for just over four per cent of the cases, but recent evidence suggests that this may be higher.
