Suicide numbers drop in Guyana – Head of Psychological Services

…says Health Ministry actively addressing prevention

A lowered suicide rate when compared to several years ago has put the Health Ministry and by extension, its Mental Health Unit, in overdrive to achieve even greater results.
Head of Psychological Services at the Mental Health Unit, Dr Mark Constantine shared on this week’s Health Matters programme that while the numbers are lower, it is not where health officials want it to be.

“Suicide is a topic of concern when we look at it in our Guyanese context. One life is one life too many. In Guyana, we know that in years past, we were ranking number two globally. It is good to let the public know that the numbers have come down but not down to where we want it to be,” he disclosed.
Identifying the sensitivity of this topic, he noted that it is important for persons around those at risk to not engage in a way that might trigger any unfortunate circumstances.
“Be very cautious with how you proceed to approach someone who might be at risk. Don’t be judgmental. Don’t be critical to people. All of these things can serve as further triggers. It is a very sensitive issue but the Ministry of Health and the Mental Health Unit have been working very hard to put programmes and systems in place to further bring down the numbers,” said the healthcare professional.
In the month of September, the Health Ministry has turned its focus to suicide prevention. Some of the main reasons for suicidal behaviour has been dealing with loss, substance abuse, among others.
Zeroing in on those who are suffering from such thoughts, Dr Constantine said it is important to understand and recognise emotions.
“People need to be aware of their feelings. Know how you feel. Pay attention to your feelings. People feel a sense of hopelessness and they just want a way out of their situation. People don’t necessary want to die and it is feeling of feeling trapped, suffocated and as if there is no light at the end of the tunnel.”

However, the Head of Psychological Services reminded that help is always available, and that communication with someone trustworthy can be very useful.
He assured, “I would say to people that there is always help out there. The reason why a lot of people end up in undesirable situations is because they keep their situation to themselves. They’re not aware of their feelings. Find someone to talk to. It doesn’t have to be a psychologist or a counsellor or a doctor. Just find someone whom you trust.”
Clinical Psychologist of the Mental Health Unit, Kadija McClure also added that social media users should be mindful about their interactions.
“Whether it is verbal or through comments, your words matter and it matters a lot to these people who are experiencing these thoughts. Whatever you say, whether jokingly or not, can have a very lasting impact on their thoughts about themselves. It is important to always be kind,” she asserted.
The Health Ministry has psychologists and mental health counsellors to handle such cases. The Mental Health Unit has decentralised its counsellors to a few locations across the country, along with psychiatric resources. (G12)