There are many social ills affecting the Guyanese society, especially the younger segment of the population and programmes and support services to help address these issues could never be enough. For example, the use of illegal drugs and alcohol, crime, suicide, domestic and other forms of violence, lack of jobs, and so on are having a huge negative impact on communities across Guyana. And now, more than ever, there is need for a genuine collaborative approach, with inclusive planning and coordination, where volunteerism is a key element, to help find practical and lasting solutions to these many ills.
We are well aware that sometimes young people feel there is no end or solutions to the problems they are facing and hence they turn to various forms of anti-social behaviours thereby creating more challenges for an already burdened society.
While the Government must play a crucial role in designing the relevant policies and putting in place the necessary legislative framework and other support mechanisms aimed at addressing these issues, this burden must also be shared by various actors within the society, such as religious groups, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), etc, since such problems affect everyone. For example, there is hardly any family in Guyana which was never touched directly or indirectly by suicide. Experts have pointed to the fact that about 90 per cent of people who die by suicide had some sort of mental illness at the time of their death.
Many people die by suicide because depression is triggered by several negative life experiences and the suffering person does not receive effective treatment or support. In many communities across the country, persons are crying out for attention: they need guidance or simply someone to speak with; many want to find a way out of their misery. However, sometimes accessing that source of help is very difficult.
At present there are quite a few NGOs, faith-based organisations, etc, offering such support services, but there is need for more to get involved. Those who are already on board should be commended for the work they are doing. Such work is invaluable and must be supported and encouraged. A few new organisations are also coming on board and some are expanding their services – the most recent being The Guyana Foundation Sunrise Centre, which was recently launched in Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
The Guyana Foundation Sunrise Centre could be regarded as a model to follow. It has a well-thought-out strategy aimed at providing the much-needed care and support to young persons in the Region and surrounding areas. Services being offered free of charge include professional counselling and mental health support services, holistic wellness activities, and skill training courses in various areas.
The Centre is an excellent initiative, which should be replicated across the country. As stated by First Lady Sandra Granger at the launch of the Centre, “what we have seen here is a sunrise – the symbolic dawn of a new day on the Essequibo Coast. This is a day on which people can wake up to the promise of a difference in their lives. They know that regardless of gender, race, age, or religion, they can come to this Centre to meet their peers or seek counselling. They can share their thoughts and feelings about the things that affect their daily lives and perhaps, find the solution to some of [them]”.
The role of the Private Sector should also never be underestimated. There is need for funding for many crucial programmes aimed at creating better opportunities for young persons and businesses should step up to the challenge. Such programmes once effectively implemented would see our children and young people become well-equipped with the necessary skills to develop themselves and, in turn, contribute to the overall development of the country as a whole.
We believe that if our young people are to move from the less mature and irresponsible ways of thinking and acting, to making more mature and responsible judgments and engaging in activities that are the hallmark of a socially productive adulthood, certain support systems must be provided. The Guyana Foundation Sunrise Centre is one of the most recent organisations to take the lead in this regard; others should follow.
