Urgent call to address the escalating suicide crisis among youths in Guyana

Oct 25, 2025 Letters

Dear Editor,

It is with profound concern that this missive presents the stark reality behind a seemingly paradoxical crisis unfolding in our nation. Despite Guyana’s status as one of the fastest-growing economies in the Caribbean, we face an unprecedented surge in suicides among our youth aged 19 to 25 years—according to sources linked to State Pathology Dept. there were 11 reported deaths in just one week this year.

This figure aligns tragically with research showing that Guyana holds one of the highest youth suicide rates globally, surpassing 44 per 100,000 population, disproportionately affecting our Indo-Guyanese young adults and predominantly males.

Recent psychological autopsy studies reveal three predominant pathways leading to suicide among our children and youth:

Hard life adversities (46%) including economic hardships and domestic violence
Untreated or undiagnosed mental illness (20%) with none of the affected accessing mental health support
Acute and protracted interpersonal stresses (20%) such as family rejection, peer conflicts, and romantic disappointments

Alarmingly, there exists a profound stigma and lack of mental health literacy compounded by limited access to timely mental health services and crisis support. Many of those affected neither sought nor received help due to societal shame, fear, and systemic barriers. The challenge is further compounded by the cultural dynamics intrinsic to our communities, where mental health discussions remain taboo.

Urgent collective action is essential to prevent further loss of precious lives and secure the future of Guyana. It is respectfully urged that administrators tasked with the mandate; champion a nationwide, multi-sectoral campaign aimed at:

Elevating mental health and suicide literacy across all regions, especially targeted at youth and families
Expanding funding and outreach for mental health services, including mobile and community-based programs
Strengthening and widely promoting the National Suicide Prevention Helpline 915 to ensure 24/7 crisis support
Enacting and enforcing policies limiting access to common means of suicide such as pesticides
Collaborating transparently with stakeholders to destigmatize mental illness through education and media engagement
Incorporating schools, staffed with adequately trained counselors, religious institutions, and community leaders to serve as active partners in prevention efforts

Given Guyana’s small population, each young life lost to suicide represents a national tragedy with irreversible social and economic consequences. By focusing attention and resources on this invisible epidemic now, we can lead Guyana in reclaiming hope, healing, and resilience among our youth.

The nation looks forward to bold, decisive leadership from those tasked with the mandate to break the silence on mental health, dismantle stigma, and prioritize suicide prevention as a critical pillar of our holistic national development.

This urgent matter demands action informed by data and compassion to protect our country’s future generations. Our collective immediate consideration and public call to arms in this fight will be crucial for lasting and meaning-ful change.

Respectfully,
Hemdutt Kumar
Concerned Citizen / Social Advocate
References: WHO Data, Psychological Autopsy Studies, National Mental Health Action Plan 2024-2030

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