Suicide in Guyana

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Suicide in Guyana is a serious social problem, [1] as Guyana is ranked worst in suicides per capita worldwide among sovereign nations. [2]

Contents

Statistics

Domestic data on suicide in Guyana is limited, as the country's available health literature is focused mainly on infectious tropical diseases. [3] A 2012 World Health Organization report indicated that Guyana had a suicide rate of 44.2 per 100,000 people, and that for every single female suicide, there were 3.2 male suicides. By comparison, neighboring Suriname had a suicide rate of 27.8 per 100,000, and Venezuela's rate was 2.6 per 100,000.

Suicides appear to be significantly higher among Indo-Guyanese than other ethnic groups, accounting for around 80% of total suicides. Most of suicides result from poisoning, primarily from agricultural pesticides. [4]

Attempts by the government to address the issue have been stymied by political divisions. A bill was voted down in 2016 which would have amended the country's laws in order to decriminalize suicide, implemented the 2014 Mental Health Strategic Plan and a five-year National Suicide Prevention Plan which were both crafted by the previous government, and allocated funds to treat mental health and suicide as national priorities. Speakers for the parliamentary majority argued that the manner in which the legislation was framed both politicized and trivialized the issue. [5]

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suicide prevention</span> Collective efforts to reduce the incidence of suicide

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suicide in the United States</span> Statistics and causes of suicide in the U.S.

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In 2014, the WHO ranked Nepal as the 7th in the global suicide rate. The estimated annual suicides in Nepal are 6,840 or 24.9 suicides per 100,000 people. Data on suicide in Nepal are primarily based on police reports and therefore rely on mortality statistics. However, the burden of suicide in communities is likely to be higher, particularly among women, migrant workers, and populations affected by disasters.

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Suicide among Native Americans in the United States, both attempted and completed, is more prevalent than in any other racial or ethnic group in the United States. Among American youths specifically, Native American youths also show higher rates of suicide than American youths of other races. Despite making up only 0.9% of the total United States population, American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs) are a significantly heterogeneous group, with 560 federally recognized tribes, more than 200 non-federally recognized tribes, more than 300 languages spoken, and one half or more of them living in urban areas. Suicide rates are likewise variable within AIAN communities. Reported rates range from 0 to 150 per 100,000 members of the population for different groups. Native American men are more likely to commit suicide than Native American women, but Native American women show a higher prevalence of suicidal behaviors. Interpersonal relationships, community environment, spirituality, mental healthcare, and alcohol abuse interventions are among subjects of studies about the effectiveness of suicide prevention efforts. David Lester calls attention to the existence and importance of theories of suicide developed by indigenous peoples themselves, and notes that they "can challenge traditional Western theories of suicide." Studies by Olson and Wahab as well as Doll and Brady report that the Indian Health Service has lacked the resources needed to sufficiently address mental health problems in Native American communities. The most complete records of suicide among Native Americans in the United States are reported by the Indian Health Service.

A disease of despair is one of three classes of behavior-related medical conditions that increase in groups of people who experience despair due to a sense that their long-term social and economic prospects are bleak. The three disease types are drug overdose, suicide, and alcoholic liver disease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates</span>

Suicide cases have remained constant or decreased since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a study done on twenty-one high and upper-middle-income countries in April–July 2020, the number of suicides has remained static. These results were attributed to a variety of factors, including the composition of mental health support, financial assistance, having families and communities work diligently to care for at-risk individuals, discovering new ways to connect through the use of technology, and having more time spent with family members which aided in the strengthening of their bonds. Despite this, there has been an increase in isolation, fear, stigma, abuse, and economic fallout as a result of COVID-19. Self-reported levels of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts were elevated during the initial stay-at-home periods, according to empirical evidence from several countries, but this does not appear to have translated into an increase in suicides.

Youth suicide in India is when young Indian people deliberately end their own life. People aged 15 to 24 years have the highest suicide rate in India, which is consistent with international trends in youth suicide. 35% of recorded suicides in India occur in this age group. Risk factors and methods of youth suicide differ from those in other age groups.

References

  1. Ramsawak and Umraw, Rampersad and Ralph (2003). modules in social studies. La Romaine, Trinidad: caribbean educational publisher. ISBN   978-9768014061.
  2. "Why Does Guyana Have The Highest Suicide Rate In The World?". 2014-10-14. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  3. Rudatsikira & Muula (23 August 2007). "Prevalence and associated factors of suicidal ideation among school-going adolescents in Guyana: results from a cross sectional study". Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health. 3 (13): 13. doi: 10.1186/1745-0179-3-13 . PMC   2014747 . PMID   17716374.
  4. Shaw, Charlotte; Stuart, Jaimee; Thomas, Troy; Kõlves, Kairi (July 2022). "Suicidal behaviour and ideation in Guyana: A systematic literature review". The Lancet Regional Health - Americas. 11: 100253. doi:10.1016/j.lana.2022.100253. PMC   9903603 . PMID   36778929.
  5. "Gov't votes down opposition's 'political' motion on suicide". Stabroek News. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.