Local NGO welcomes police suicide hotlines

Jul 21, 2015 News

– Calls for adequate staff, proper implementation

Following the announcement by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) that suicide hotlines will soon be launched across the nation, a local nongovernmental organisation has applauded the initiative, saying it was one that was long overdue.

But, with the promise of welcome relief, the NGO is emphasising the need for the hotlines to not only be properly implemented but also adequately staffed.

The NGO, the Caribbean Voice, has been one calling for the setting up of suicide hotlines for quite some time. Further, the body had long recognised the serious implications suicide had on Guyana’s development.

Recently, top cop Seelall Persaud said that a number of suicide hotlines will be set up and manned by police ranks trained in interacting with persons. The hotlines will see these trained ranks coordinating with police stations in different districts to get counselors to affected persons. The entire operation is being supported by the Ministry of Social Cohesion and faith-based organisations.

Noting the complexity of the operation, the NGO stressed that the gap between the receipt of a call and access to a counselor must be minimal. Therefore, it said, “Every area should have counselors available and accessible within minutes.” The group added that vehicles must also always be available, for in these situations time could be critical.

Furthermore, Caribbean Voice said that it was paramount for the entire process to not be centralised to one location as this would be “an exercise in futility”.

Furthermore, the NGO emphasised that the personnel manning the hotlines must be trained to not only employ emphatic communication, but to ensure that callers feel comfortable and connected.

“They must also display basic knowledge of warning signs in order to quickly and easily pin down the factors that may have led to a call,” Caribbean Voice said.

The body went on to applaud the use of faith-based counselors but stressed that these counselors must also be provided with basic clinical training rather than only a faith-based approach.

“We strongly suggest that faith-based counselors must be drawn from all three major faiths – Christianity, Hinduism and Islam – as it is critically important not to impose faith based counselors of one religion on those who subscribe to other religions,” the NGO emphasised.

Additionally, Caribbean Voice noted that legislation controlling access to pesticides also needed to be reviewed. The body that this area had similarly been highlighted by Commissioner Persaud, and advised that the administration look towards previously successful models such as the Sri Lankan Model of Hazard Reduction.

The body added that meetings previously held with the local Pesticide Board had reaped positive feedback in this regard. However, process has reportedly been stalled and the NGO called on the relevant authorities to get the process “up and running”.

Meanwhile, Caribbean Voice noted that the GPF had employed a collaborative approach in tackling the issue of suicide and commended the tactic. It went on to urge further collaborations from the community level right up to more government agencies.

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Local NGO welcomes police suicide hotlines

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