Hindu youths launch ‘I Love Life’ anti-suicide campaign

Feb 23, 2015 News

The Golden Om Dharmic Youth Group (GODYG), the Youth arm of the East Berbice Praant of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) has launched its ‘I Love Life’ anti- suicide campaign. The local World Wide Web initiative sprung from the upsurge of suicides that have been rocking Guyana, which has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.
According to President of the GODYG, Pandit Deodat Persaud, the group has chosen to use Facebook to allow persons to make videos of themselves using anti- suicide slogans, similar to that of the recent IceBucket Challenge in the USA.
“We have officially launched our Suicide Stopper Campaign; aimed at reducing the alarming increase of suicide cases across Guyana.”

Golden Om’s Radha Persaud poses for the ‘I Love Life Challenge’

Launched on the popular social network, Facebook, the group has invited members to create and display posters with the expression, “#ilovelife”. Having gained momentum during the month of January, 2015, another launching was done on Berbice TV Stations. On those programmes, members expressed their sentiments on the issue and urged viewers to adopt other meaningful resolutions to cope with difficult circumstances. It was emphasized that suicide does not end the pains one may experience; instead, the act of suicide passes on that very pain to the surviving relatives. Several callers were given an opportunity to share their views on the subject matter.
“Some persons still believe suicide is the way out and it’s alarming,” he said.
“I don’t know if young people have lost the vigor of life, but they need to be empowered. We need to let them know that if you do something wrong, it’s not the end of the world.”
“The latest statistics point Guyana as the country with the leading suicide rates. Suicide takes one human life from the Earth every 40 seconds, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). An estimated 804, 000 suicides occurred worldwide in 2012, representing an annual global age-standardized suicide rate of 11.4 per 100 000 population (15.0 for males and 8.0 for females). PAHO/WHO reported that Guyana had the world’s highest estimated suicide rate in 2012. More so, the actions taken in May 2013 by the sixty-sixth World Health Assembly to adopt the first-ever Mental Health Action Plan of the World Health Organization (WHO) has influenced our decision, since suicide prevention is an integral part of the plan, with the goal of reducing the rate of suicide in countries by 10% by 2020.”
Pandit Persaud noted that apart from the Facebook challenge, the group intends to vigorously pursue other means of public awareness of suicide prevention.
These include use of Bumper Stickers to target drivers; sale of souvenir items, which will act as a reminder to the purchaser of their promise to love life; printing of school book labels, pens, books to target school children; monthly TV programmes; daily advertisements; mounting of banners; and seminars across Guyana.
Persaud said the President of the GHDS, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, has fully supported the project.
“Already, we are assured of access to the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha Praant platform.”
Persons can make videos and also nominate another friend on Facebook at the same time.
“So, having done your piece, you nominate someone …[and] being nominated by someone, you say something about life— why you love life and sing or dance your favorite song— how you celebrate life and nominate somebody else and ,of course ,as a good Samaritan you can make a donation,” he said.
The funds, Persaud said, will be used to organize campaigns in various communities and sharing of information through pamphlets.
Persons wishing further information can contact Persaud on 627- 4423; Chandradatt Seepersaud, trained by the International Chaplain Organization,Project Coordinator and counselor with GODYG on 326-0976; Deokie Ramlochan, Secretary- 327-7691; and Radha Persaud,Treasurer.