TCV begins countrywide mental health, suicide workshops

Several workshops were conducted by the Caribbean Voice (TCV) as that non-governmental organisation (NGO) continued its efforts to eradicate suicide and mental health issues.
Two sessions were recently held with youths from Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Five (Mahaica-Berbice) in the areas of abuse and suicide in collaboration with the Ministry of the Presidency.
In the last three months, addiction workshops were also organised and led by Canada-based addiction specialist Shirvington Hannays.
These were conducted at the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and at the Fort Wellington Secondary School in collaboration with the West Berbice Cricket Board.
For 2018, over 500 teachers were also involved in four mental health workshops held in collaboration with the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) at the Canje Secondary School, Berbice High School, Leonora Secondary School, and Friendship Secondary School.
With support from the respective sugar estates and Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), mental health workshops were held for sugar workers at Skeldon and Albion Estates.
In the coming week, a presentation on suicide will be made to staff and students at The Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre at Corriverton, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), while others will follow at Black Bush Polder in November.
Four surveys have also been conducted, which provided information on the public’s view on the establishment of a registry of sex offenders. In the most recent one, findings showed a significant support for mandated counselling for all persons with mental health issues who appear in courts to answer charges.
Additionally, information from the survey indicate that all healthcare workers and educators should be mandated to report any and all forms of abuse or suspicion of abuse, and that Police officers be trained to appropriately handle abuse and suicide cases.
TCV is also preparing for three national campaigns next year, mainly a lay counsellor training programme, a domestic violence campaign, and a house-to-house campaign in suicide and abuse hotspots.