Study on suicide recommends Guyana put restrictions on importation of pesticides

Guyana’s suicide rate is among the top ten in the world, consistently ranking in that position for at least two decades, with pesticide ingestion being the technique employed by those whose suicide is said to have been primarily precipitated by interpersonal strife.
These conclusions were drawn from a case study named “Pesticides and Passion: A Qualitative Psychological Autopsy Study of Suicide in Guyana”, which has emphasized that medical personnel should receive training in mental health and suicide prevention.
Charlotte Shaw, Jaimee Stuart, Troy Thomas and Kairi Kõlves wrote the study, which was conducted by The Lancet Regional Health – Americas.
The findings of this study support prior reports that people in Guyana utilise lethal pesticides to commit suicide. It has been stated that the best way to avoid pesticide suicides is to limit the importation of extremely lethal pesticides, and encourage the use of less toxic alternatives. This has been proven to be a successful population-level suicide prevention technique, according to the study, with no negative effects on crop production.
By preventing importation of three extremely deadly pesticides (dimethoate, fenthion, and paraquat), the study noted, Sri Lanka, for instance, was able to reduce the number of pesticide suicides by 50% within a three-year period.
“Therefore, it is recommended that Guyana institute a ban on the importation of highly lethal pesticides. The Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board of Guyana is continually updating the list of prohibited pesticides and toxic chemicals; however, more support is needed regarding enforcement and substitute promotion,” the study suggested.
The authors have noted that the findings of the study illustrate the complexities of suicide in Guyana, and the importance of adopting a biopsychosocial perspective to suicide prevention. This, they said, involves considering the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and contextual experiences that contribute to suicidality.
“As such, there is a need for a multidisciplinary approach to suicide prevention, involving not only the health sector, but also other social sectors, including gender, community development, and cultural institutions”, the study noted.
It would also enhance the limited human mental health resources currently available in Guyana if community-based psychosocial support groups, especially those with an alcohol and male focus, were to be established and supported, the authors have said.
The case series investigation employed a qualitative autopsy technique. One to three informants per deceased person were interviewed regarding the lives of 20 Guyanese who died by suicide (14 men and six women aged 10-74). Ten of these individuals died by hanging while the other 10 had ingested pesticides.
According to the study, mental ill-health was not implicated for all the people who died by suicide in this study. Nonetheless, it stated that mental health and suicide literacy of medical professionals requires improvement, so that mental health can factor into the physical health assessment process and referrals for mental health treatment provided.
The study has further stated that promoting positive mental health and creating awareness to reduce stigma may also support suicide prevention, while highlighting that favourably, community mental health projects, mental health literacy of healthcare workers, and activities focused on men have all recently been initiated in Guyana. It concluded that further research is needed to better understand suicide in Guyana.
“Of priority is a generalisable psychological autopsy study. Furthermore, a study that involves interviews with people who have survived a suicide attempt…is also encouraged, particularly to explore method selection and lethal intention.”
The study, which was released last month, suggested conducting a media analysis to better comprehend the cultural context of suicide, and to look into any potential effects of media coverage on the suicide rate in Guyana. Notably, it was pointed out that despite the consistently high rates of suicide, there has been limited research dedicated to suicide in Guyana.
This project was approved by the Griffith University Human Research Ethics Committee. Ethical approval was also provided by the Ministry of Health, Guyana Institutional Review Board.