Confronting the factors that give rise to suicide

Dear Editor,
During my cross country visits and talking to youths, teachers, parents and community leaders in various communities, a few commonalites stood out as it relates to the suicide problem in Guyana which I feel, if addressed correctly, would have a positive impact on saving lives. These are some of the area where immediate action can help.
Unlike the large cities like Georgetown where there is a reasonable ratio of counsellors to schools, I noticed that in the in the areas where suicide is prevalent, there are very few or no counsellors or social workers in the schools.  The youths in these areas, predominantly in Regions 2 Essequibo Coast and Region 6, Berbice, Corentyne, have no trained individuals available to counsel them through their problems, which ultimately leads to them ending their lives prematurely.
To help close this gap, I recommend that teachers need to be trained on observing behavioral changes in their students, and be able to identify early signs of depression. This would mean having personal conversations with troubled youths and develop a trusted and safe forum where the youths can openly share their concerns. Understanding the root cause of the problem would enable the teachers to be better able to address the concerns with student and parents. This should not replace having trained behavioral health counsellors in the school districts.
Next, is the concern of child molestation, abuse and incest. Although children are encouraged to report these to the police, many don’t because they know the police will most likely release the perpetrator with a bribe etc, and they fear the consequences of facing the individual again.  They are afraid to tell anyone because of being labeled as a liar or be alienated. Their fear of going home or being in the vicinity of their attack causes severe anxieties and contemplation of death becomes more real for them.
Domestic violence is another area of concern.  It poses a serious threat to children’s emotional, psychological, and physical well-being, particularly if the violence is chronic. In addition to witnessing the horrifying acts of violence on one parent, children in homes with domestic violence are also constantly being verbally and physically attacked by a parent. They worry about their safety or the safety of a parent.
This adds to the current pressure the youths are facing to succeed at school, as such it takes a toll on their mental and emotional state.  I spoke with several youths who have attempted suicide and some have shown me their self-mutilation they have endured to themselves with the attempt of ending their lives or seeking attention for help.
Alcohol and drug use is very common. Users believe it eases their pain when in fact it masks the problem for that short period.  Once sober and they realize their problem is still there, they revert back to consuming more thus developing an addiction. Alcohol and drugs cause hallucination, clouds judgment, lowers inhibitions, and worsens depression which leads to other mental health challenges and ultimately suicide.
Parents need to understand that their vision for their child does not always equate to what their child’s vision is for themselves. Please sit and talk with your children and get to know then and understand what their thoughts and concerns are.  Learn to embrace their vision and support and nurture their strengths.
Due to the lack of psychologist, behavioral therapist or counsellors to help these troubled youths, they have no one to turn to for help.  They are unable to communicate with their parents because of the cultural premise of a child should be seen but heard.  I have encouraged them to report any abuse incident to law enforcement (although they don’t have confidence in this) and to speak with their teachers, spiritual leaders, friends or someone they feel they can confide in.  However the level of trust is not there and many feel they will be betrayed.
Communities throughout have expressed concerns regarding the lack of efforts by the Ministries and other government agencies in providing support to curb the suicide crisis facing their local communities. My encouragement to the communities is not to wait for the government officials to provide a solution. Instead work together, since it would take everyone’s help in putting an end to this problem one village at a time.
Together we can do a lot more and lessen the suicide rate if individuals in the mental health professional field can volunteer their time in order to have a constant availability of resources to address these issues. These are just a few of the key drivers of this crisis.  If you have the skills set required to provide counseling please message us. Tell us your areas of expertise and geographical location you can assist.  We will then connect you with someone in the location. Keep in mind this is a volunteer service.
Roy Ganga
Citizens Against Suicide (Guyana