A TROUBLING ISSUE

Jan 20, 2016 Editorial, Features / Columnists

The government is not only faced with addressing frighteningly violent crimes and brutal murders these days, but there has been a shockingly high rate of suicides at the beginning of the new year. Less than two weeks into 2016, suicide which has been suppressed for years has once again emerged as a troubling issue.
At a time when there is much ado about new beginnings and great expectations, reports of suicides and attempts, particularly by young persons, have provided a dose of reality. It is very serious. This is a stunned nation.
Suicide remains a taboo subject, and indeed the unnerving silence has done nothing to solve it. The root cause has not been properly addressed by the various administrations. Stigma and misconceptions have contributed to a lack of constructive conversations; but the nation can no longer cower, because more deaths by suicide will likely continue as a result of failure to tackle the issue. Like other disquieting issues such as child abuse and domestic violence, public awareness and conversations could stimulate action to curb this scourge.
The recent spate of suicides has to be taken seriously by the government, especially the Ministry of Public Health and other state agencies. Policies aimed at preventing suicide from spiraling out of control must be implemented.
Guyana is too small to have such a high suicide rate. It is disturbing to know that some of the youngest and brightest among us could even contemplate suicide. Equally as startling is the fact that a 12-year-old attempts suicide because she becomes frustrated with life after enduring severe problems with her boyfriend. This is problematic; it is a critical matter.
Studies have shown that the onset of mental health-related issues including sadness, hopelessness, despair, low self-esteem, and mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, among a slew of others, could lead to alcohol and substance abuse, and ultimately suicide. But every problem, no matter how unsolvable it may appear on the surface, has a solution.
However, the government’s priority is more than likely not in that area, as it continues to concentrate its efforts and time on the 50th Independence anniversary celebrations. After eight months, the government has not outlined any specific plans to deal with suicide.
Rather than photo ops to convince the people that they are working on their behalf, senior members of the government (ministers) need to be more vigilant, more caring and more discerning to people who are experiencing tough times. Rather than distancing themselves from the people, they should hold out a hand to the hopeless, desolate and jobless in society, and those who are experiencing depression or some form of rejection.
It cannot be business as usual to see a growing number of frustrated youths turn to alcohol or drugs to ease their pain and suffering and who prefer to die rather than live. A lack of compassion or the feigning of ignorance by the political directorate is unacceptable.
No one sees a fire burning in a house and ignores it, hoping the next passerby will conscientiously raise the alarm. We are still each other’s keeper. Everyone should reach out and embrace each other more; break down the walls that surround this sensitive issue and seek help before it is too late. Everyone needs to work harder towards the prevention of suicide.
It is unfortunate that the largest group of victims of this terrible scourge are teenagers. It is time for the government, with the help of all in society, to reach out to the young people to help find solutions to the problems they are encountering. And there are myriad problems. There needs to be a discernible shift in focus in relation to suicide.

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