Guyana’s Health ministry is worried about the rate of suicides there.
Already, 20 people have committed suicide, while several others are recovering from failed attempts since the beginning of 2014.
Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran met with Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud and chief psychiatrist Bhiro Harry to discuss the issue of “mental health”. They concluded that suicide is not just a mental health issue but had socio-cultural import as well.
Dr Persaud said the Ministry of Health was working to strengthen “The Gate Keepers Programme” to ensure capacity building especially among faith-based organization with much emphasis placed on suicide-prone communities and suicide prevention programmes.
The Gate Keepers Programme was established by former Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy.
The Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) also expressed alarm in a statement Sundayand said it was “extremely perturbed over the incidents of suicide”.
Suicides appear to be more prevalent in the East Berbice region and authorities will be embarking on a multi-sectoral approach to this scourge.
“The IAC believes that despite some mechanisms to provide assistance, there has been a deficiency in this regard by public entities and private organisations,” the release said. “The lingering consequences brought to bear on surviving family members, especially when children are affected, must also be addressed. The IAC also believes that the circumstances which may be reasons for someone taking his or her life must be identified and addressed,” the IAC further indicated.
Many of those who resorted to suicide where teenagers. Over the weekend, 15-year-old Leah Grant, a student of the Brickdam Secondary School, died at the Georgetown Public Hospital after ingesting a poisonous substance at school on Friday.
