Essequibians rank domestic issues, peer pressure as top suicide causes

Mar 13, 2014 News

… researchers detect growing psychological trend
Suicide research conducted on the Essequibo Coast last month and funded by the American University of Research, has proven that the majority of Essequibians believe that relationship issues, peer pressure and bullying are the most prevalent reasons for suicide in their community.

Dr. Eton Simeon (right) and Ms. Jennel Williams –project coordinator

They believe also that domestic disputes, violence and frustration are the second most notable causes of suicidal acts.
According to suicide statistics compiled by the Suddie Hospital in Essequibo, 117 persons attempted suicide last year, 16 were successful. Residents of the Region Two communities found that parent/child conflict and depression were also playing a major role in causing persons to act out negatively towards their social issues.
The University team which comprised eight psychology students, University President Dr. Eton Simeon, Leila Ramson Teaching Services Commission, Zairol Neisha of the Guyana Counseling Association, Psychologist and Counselors, was able to identify that a “lack of mental processing” was part of the root cause of suicidal behaviour.
The doctor explained that suicidal acts are usually triggered by an occurrence which causes instability in a person’s understanding and behaviour. As such, being unable to “step back and process what has happened or is happening before acting out.”
Yesterday, at the University’s Sheriff Street location, the findings of the one-week study conducted on 2,370 residents was presented to the public. The initiative to conduct the report Dr. Simeon explained, stemmed from a local newspaper article which declared that more than 80 persons had died from suicide attempts in the last year.
He said that figure was thought to be so alarming that a team was immediately set up for the Essequibo study. It was however, found that the figure was gravely erroneous, but the study was very necessary in terms of the information that was gathered.
It even birthed the need to conduct more research studies; in the coming week work will commence on surveying more communities, starting with Black Bush Polder, in Berbice, Dr. Simeon informed.
This continuous exercise he related, is for the mere fact that, “we have discovered a trend in the occurrence of suicide attempts.” Dr, Simeon added that a suicidal act is usual reactive, before reminding that the act is also, usually “triggered by some unlinking issue”.
“It is either you process or you react,” the doctor said. And with a suicidal trend, persons are beginning to look at the act as a way out of a problem. A trend, he explained, can be normal and that is when it becomes dangerous, he explained.
It is just like the garbage situation, where you walk around the city and there are garbage piles everywhere. Nothing is being done about it and persons are continuing to dump garbage even after a spot has been cleaned.
You eventually become a part of it the doctor said because it has now become accepted and it is normal; “it is now the trend; and a trend is sometimes very hard to break.”
The doctor said that potentially suicidal persons see taking their own life as being part of what is normal.
The majority of Essequibians believe, however, that enough is not being done to address issues of suicide. The majority of study participants see counseling as the ideal measure against this adverse behaviour. Another percentage saw recreational and stress relief activities as a remedy, supported by sensitization, religious intervention and parent coaching.
They believe, too, that the younger generation, especially between the ages of 16 and 20 is most prone to suicide. Children between the ages of 12 and 15 are the second most affected by suicide, the study samples believe.
A vast majority of suicides are attempted by poison. Hanging is the next preferred method of death.
The Essequibo report stated that of 1,960 persons that were interviewed about knowing persons who committed or attempted suicide; 961 persons knew someone who committed suicide and 485 persons knew someone who made an attempt.
Dr. Simeon explained however that the University is putting in place strategic measures to aid in the fight against suicide. He too believes that much more has to be done, but charged that improved and revised measures needs to be looked at.
The University is looking into technological measures which include the creation of a specific website by the University and assistance that could be readily accessed on a cell phone, among other strategies.
The Research University is aiming with this project, “to significantly reduce the number of deaths by suicide in Guyana by the end of this year.”