POTS Guyana to host memorial walk, candlelight vigil

World Suicide Prevention Day

In observance of World Suicide Prevention Day, the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Prevention of Teenage Suicide (POTS) Guyana will be holding its annual memorial walk on Sunday, September 9, together with a seminar, concert and candlelight vigil on Monday, September 10, in the city of Georgetown.
The memorial walk is scheduled to begin at 06:00h at the intersection of Charlotte and Camp Streets, Georgetown; and the suicide prevention seminar will be held at the Umana Yana in Kingston, Georgetown, starting at 10:00h. The suicide prevention awareness concert, in which teenagers would specifically be targeted, would thereafter be held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The day will culminate with a candlelight vigil held outside of the Sports Hall.
The memorial walk is the third of its kind to be held by POTS Guyana. It aims at raising awareness about suicide prevention and mental health issues. POTS Guyana, being a non-profit organisation, is dedicated to reducing suicide in Guyana, presenting educational talks, and providing bereavement support services to survivors of suicide.
President of POTS Guyana, Lisa Punch, has said, “It is imperative that our young people who are despairing and having suicidal thoughts know that there is help available. All you need to do is to ask for help. We expect 100 people to turn out to the walk, as we’ve collaborated with mass distribution companies. These walks mean so much to the survivors of suicide.
“We expect 50 persons at the seminar, which is in collaboration with PYARG. The concert will feature our best artistes. It’s amazing to see entertainers take time out to give back to our future generation.”
Established in 2014, the NGO now has 60 volunteers.