ANOTHER SHOCKING SUICIDAL DEATH

Jan 29, 2019 Editorial

Suicide continues to be a major problem in the country. Last week, the Ministry of Education had to provide councilors to help many shocked and disarrayed students at the privately owned Mae’s School where one student committed suicide.
Vanica Schultz, 15, a sixth form student at Mae’s school, had sent suicide notes to several of her classmates and some teachers before falling ill. She subsequently died at the Woodlands Hospital.
The student had earlier posted on social media platforms her intentions to take her life, but it appears that those who saw the postings did not take them seriously.
Suicide among youths remains a national epidemic in the country. It affects everyone directly or indirectly. It is not only about the loss of a life of one individual, but also a tragedy for relatives and friends who are left to grieve.
It seems to be a common practice and a serious social problem in Guyana which has one of the highest suicide rates in the world based on per capita. According to the World Health Organization, Guyana has a suicide rate of 44.2 per 100,000 person and that for every female suicide, there were 3.2 male suicides.
By comparison, our neighbours, Suriname has a suicide rate of 27.8 per 100,000; and Venezuela’s rate is 26 per 100,000, the lowest in the region.
There are several reasons that can explain the shockingly high rate of suicides in Guyana. They include alcohol and drug abuse, easy access to poisonous substances, rejection in a love affair, family pressures to marry young, and arranged marriages. Studies have shown that mental health-related issues including sadness, hopelessness, despair, low self-esteem, depression and anxiety have led to alcohol and substance abuse, and ultimately suicide.
Depression in its own right has driven many to kill themselves. It is a mental health problem but Guyanese have not been known to deal effectively with mental health problems. This is due to the paucity of psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses and even psychologists.
People in the 14 to 35 age group are the vast majority of persons who commit suicide in the country. Most suicides are by hanging or the ingestion of poisonous substances. Due to a shortage of psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health specialists and trained social workers in the country, there are limited options for those contemplating suicide to seek help.
Committing suicide is not a new experience in the country. It has happened in previous generations but not as frequent as today. However, suicide remains a major problem for the nation and the authorities. But no matter how unsolvable it may seem, there is a solution.
Suicide is viewed as a taboo subject, and even though some have been linked to witchcraft, the unnerving silence about suicide has done nothing to solve it. Vanica Schultz’s death by suicide should be a matter of concern for all of us.
We can no longer cower on the issue of suicide, because to do so would be an indictment and failure by both society and government to address it. They must be proactive to start constructive discussions to end the stigma and misconceptions associated with suicide.
We as a nation must do all we can to find ways to reduce the high rate of suicide.
There have been hotlines for people crying out for help but the hotline needs the support of people associated with the victim.
The suicidal death of Vanica Schultz is one too many. We must end this scourge on society.

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