POTS hosts 3rd Annual Suicide Walk

A favourable crowd on Sunday morning marched in unison with the non-governmental organisation Prevention of Teenage Suicide (POTS), calling for an end to suicide in Guyana as the world observes World Suicide Prevention Day 2018 on Monday.
The walk, which kicked off at 06:00h at Charlotte and Camp Streets, Georgetown, saw attendance of both young and old, including a father pushing his young daughter in a stroller as they braved the early morning sun. They journeyed to the Square of the Revolution, where the march ended.
Marching with signs with encouraging messages such as “Working together to end suicide”, various organisations, including the Massy Group of Companies and Rafieya’s International Vision & Hope (RIVAH), joined hands with POTS to deliver a reminder to Guyanese that suicide is still a problem being faced.
RIVAH, a domestic violence-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), has over the years lent support to organisations such as POTS. On Sunday, the NGO donated $200,000 to POTS.
Speaking on behalf of RIVAH, Vice President Zalena Khan said the donation is the first manifestation of what RIVAH intends to do on an annual basis.
“Even though (RIVAH is) in its launch, we have since been focusing on domestic violence. We have since decided to focus on suicide as well. When we saw that POTS was doing this walk, we decided that we would like to be a part of it as well.
In our first effort to support this organisation, our focus is to support (this) organisation and to provide that financial support to provide what is needed, whether it’s for schools, brochures, or for awareness round the country,” the RIVAH Vice President said.
In his brief remarks, Christophe Bobb Semple, a Director of the Massy Group of Companies, said his company made the decision to support suicide prevention as one of the national causes in celebration of its 50th anniversary.

He said, “So we thought it wise to work with POTS Guyana, because of the amazing work that they have been doing over the years since they started”.
Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence, who was also among the marchers, told those gathered at the Square of the Revolution that the event is for those who are helpless without support.
“This walk is for the persons who don’t feel the energy and love, and for those who don’t feel like there is anyone there for them. So we are saying that POTS is here, Massy is here, RIVAH is here,” she encouraged.
Minister Lawrence said that as the walk is a yearly event, the hope is that more Guyanese will find time to talk, listen, and give good advice to someone who needs it.
“As we are on the eve of Suicide Prevention Day, we are still, as a human race, grappling with this situation of stigma and discrimination. We are still grappling with the fact that so many of us can find other things to do, but not to give an ear to our brothers and sisters. And so, as we march on not only today, but for the rest of our lives, I trust that it will not only be the collective, but it would be the singularity, where each and every one of us finds it as our responsibility to talk, listen, and give good advice to someone”, Minister Lawrence stated.
A booklet which includes the listing of the various agencies and services offered by the Ministry of Public Health is expected to be published before the end of 2018.
Prevention of Teenage Suicide (POTS) came into being in 2014, and now has 60 volunteers dedicated to reducing suicide in Guyana through informative lectures and providing bereavement support services to survivors of suicide.