Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 08, 2014 Editorial
The research does not seem to exist for Guyana, or if it does, is not easily accessible, but suicide does take a tremendous toll beyond the lives lost. Such costs are usually referred to as direct costs (costs associated with suicide and its aftermath), indirect costs (costs associated with productivity or earnings loss or projected earnings losses) and intangible human costs (pain, grief, suffering, lost quality of life, lost opportunities and values associated with what life would have offered).
Usually also, there is a total financial cost computed by adding direct and indirect costs. For example in the US these costs have been estimated to be $1,061,170 per suicide. For Guyana it could well be hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars, per suicide.
A survivor of suicide is a family member or friend of a person who died by suicide. Surviving the loss of a loved one to suicide is a risk factor for suicide. (Brent, 2010; Brent et. al., 2006)
Additionally, surviving family members and close friends are deeply impacted by each suicide, and experience a range of complex grief reactions including, guilt, anger, abandonment, denial, helplessness, and shock (Jordon, 2001; AAS, 2008).
And while no exact figures exist, it is estimated that a median of between six and 32 survivors exist for each suicide, depending on the definition used (Berman, 2011). In Guyana it would be conservative to estimate that approximately 50 per cent or more of the population knew someone who died of suicide in any given year and can be considered survivors.
Official figures indicate that over 1000 victims have been taken by this heinous act since 2011. At this rate the nation may lose 1000 or more lives to suicide every three years. And indicators do not provide any comfort in this respect.
The recent poll explained the feelings of isolation, neglect and depression being experienced by youths between the ages of 15-24. How long before many give in to the feelings of total despair and hopelessness that will lead to suicide as an escape from their present living conditions?
Already almost all of the suicides from this age group seem to be the result of lack of coping skills.
This loss to suicide becomes more massive when one looks at the impact of migration. In 2011, Guyana’s emigration rate was tagged at 33.5% or one out of every three Guyanese, with an estimated two out of every three skilled Guyanese leaving.
In 2013 the birth rate was 16.31 births per thousand while the death rate was 7.18 per thousand which means that the overall increase to the population should have been nine per thousand or an increase of 7,200 per year.
In effect, in spite of net birth rate that indicates an annual increase in the population, migration has ensured that the total population has remained almost constant for the last three decades or more. Furthermore, this migration has also fueled the brain drain, which has robbed the nation of human resources much needed for development. Now with suicide decimating the ranks of the younger population the replacement human resources, necessary for the development, would be hard pressed to materialize. The effect on development and the economy could be debilitating.
This also brings a number of other questions into play: Who will replenish the national insurance? Who will be the support for families and head the households? Who will be the doctors, nurses, teachers, policeperson or farmers?
So you see, everyone has something to lose and that is true tragedy of this plague, for it does not discriminate. Suicide is everybody’s business and it is rather difficult to understand why so many continue to sleep, as their neighbours die deaths that are eminently avoidable.
The records reveal that a great deal of aid, grants and budgetary allocations have been provided over the years for corrective work in suicide, abuse and other social ills.
Why have all these resources not made any critical impact? (From the Caribbean Voice)
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
Mar 28, 2024
Minister Ramson challenge athletes to better last year’s performance By Rawle Toney Kaieteur Sports – Guyana’s 23-member contingent for the CARIFTA Games in Grenada is set to depart the...B.V. Police Station Kaieteur News – The Beterverwagting Police Station, East Coast Demerara (ECD) will be reconstructed... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – In the face of escalating global environmental challenges, water scarcity and... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]