As part of the government’s efforts to effectively tackle the scourge of suicide, Guyana yesterday, joined with the international community to commemorate the annual World Suicide Prevention Day held on September 10, a Ministry of Health (MoH) release stated yesterday.
This year’s observances are being held under the theme, “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”, with the call to action “Start the Conversation”.
The MoH noted that changing the narrative requires a holistic approach to suicide prevention, a direction in which Guyana is moving. It is also about understanding that suicide is preventable and breaking the stigma is achievable by encouraging openness, understanding and support.
The release referenced a World Health Organization (WHO) which stated that in 2021, 100,933 people died by suicide in the regions of the Americas of which 79.4% of suicide deaths in the region occurred among males in 2019. However, it noted that suicides in women showed a sharper increase than male suicides between 2000 and 2019. Further, statistics show that middle-aged adults (40–69 years of age) make up the greatest proportion (38.0%) of suicides in the region, followed by older-aged adults (70-plus years of age) at 32.8%.
In November 2022, the Government of Guyana passed the Suicide Prevention Act in recognition of the need to address mental health challenges and reduce the stigma surrounding suicide. It decriminalised suicide and marked a major step in the country’s move to improving the mental health of the population. The release pointed out as well that this new legislation mandates the establishment of a multi-sectoral National Suicide Prevention Com-mission, which is integrally involved in the designing and implementation of public health programmes to reduce suicides.
Later, in April 2024, MoH launched the National Mental Health Action Plan & Suicide Prevention Plan 2024 – 2030, which adopts a human rights approach to addressing mental health and suicide, thus improving the treatment of patients suffering from these conditions. Under this plan, the ministries of Health and Agriculture are collaborating to develop safe storage of pesticides by vendors as well as end users, achieve the phasing out of the most hazardous pesticides, along with the introduction of low-risk alternatives.
As another part of its overall strategy, MoH in collaboration with the Canadian NGO – Inter-national Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF) – from April to May, with the support of Global Affairs Canada (GAC), completed the Gatekeepers Training for Suicide Pre-vention Programme. This initiative trained community figures, called Gate-keepers, across all 10 regions of Guyana, who possess basic essential skills and knowledge to intervene in suicidal situations, working in conjunction with the Regional Health Authorities, for referral to specialist mental health services as required.
According to the release, the MoH’s Mental Health Unit and the Ministry of Education will be collaborating with the various Suicide Awareness activities in regions Three and Four on World Suicide Prevention Day. Simultaneously, the Mental Health Unit in collaboration IDRF, is holding a suicide prevention awareness and training for primary health care workers, school teachers and guidance counselors, and civil and religious leaders in Region Six.
The MoH assured that it will continue to take a holistic approach to addressing suicide prevention in Guyana using a whole–of–government and whole–of–society approach to promoting mental wellbeing and providing support, and with the help of its citizens, work towards a healthier and more resilient Guyana.
