Within the past few days we have lost through suicide two beautiful, educated, and well cultured young women in the personage of Aliya Bulkhan and Lisa Prashad. The Alliance For Change extends our deepest sympathy to the Bulkhan and Prashad families. It is a time of sorrow and grief not only for these two families but for all Guyanese who value the human resource of our country especially our young people. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) map of suicide rates (2009) shows Guyana among nations with the highest suicide rates. WHO’s statistics say that one million people die by suicide across the world annually. There is hardly any family in Guyana which was never touched directly or indirectly by this problem. This means that we need to work harder across our beloved country to reduce the incidence of suicide.
Researchers say that 90% of people who die by suicide have some sort of mental illness at the time of their death and the most common mental illness is depression. Untreated depression is therefore the number one cause for suicide. It is very rare that someone dies by suicide because of one cause. Many people die by suicide because depression is triggered by several negative life experiences and the suffering person does not receive effective treatment or support. These negative life experiences include the death of a loved one, divorce, separation or the breakup of a relationship, a serious loss such as the loss of a home, job, or money, a serious illness, intense emotional pain, loss of hope, a victim of domestic violence or rape, serious legal problems, inability to deal with a perceived failure or humiliating situation, rejection by family or friends, and alcohol or drug abuse.
Suicidal warning signs include an appearance of sadness most of the time, speaking or writing about death, withdrawing from family and friends, a feeling of hopelessness or helplessness, a feeling of strong rage or anger, feeling trapped, dramatic mood changes, acting impulsively, losing interest in most activities, experiencing change in sleeping or eating habits, and giving away prized possessions. Parents, teachers and all others who have to spend time with our young people on a daily basis should watch out for these signs and be quick to offer help or refer the hurting person for professional treatment. It is also a time when our religious leaders should especially seek the face of Almighty God for divine help. There is often a spiritual side to suicidal tendencies and we must fight against the forces of evil which invade the minds of our precious brothers and sisters.
A knowledge of the above suicidal warning signs as well as knowledge of the negative life experiences which trigger suicide indicates that this problem has to be addressed from many angles and by civil society, religious leaders as well as the government. This united approach is very vital if we are to succeed in this battle. The AFC has competent professionals within its structure and is prepared to do it’s part in the national effort.
For more information contact:
226-0181
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