GEORGETOWN, Guyana– The National assembly has approved the Suicide Prevention Bill 2022, decriminalizing suicide in Guyana and marking a significant step in the country’s move to address mental health countrywide
The bill seeks to provide measures to fight the high number of occurrences of suicide that have pervaded Guyana’s society for several years. Guyana has one of the world’s highest rates of suicides. A 2012 World Health Organization (WHO) report indicated that Guyana had a suicide rate of 44.2 per 100,000 people,
The new legislation will also provide suicide prevention services and support to survivors of suicide, persons with suicidal ideations, and support for those who lost loved ones to suicide.
The legislation also allows for the establishment of a National Suicide Prevention Commission, which will serve in an advisory position to the Minister of Human Services and Social Security regarding legislation and regulations surrounding suicide prevention and mental health support.
The commission will also be responsible for preparing a National Suicide Prevention Plan, planning, designing, and implementing public programs to reduce suicides and suicide attempts in the country, sensitization and awareness training on suicide and suicide prevention, and establishing Suicide Prevention Centres across Guyana.
Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, who piloted the legislation in the absence of opposition legislators who had earlier staged a walkout to protest the Speaker’s decision to deny an opposition motion regarding the electoral list, said that the bill places importance on psychological support for survivors of suicide attempts as well as those suffering from mental health issues that often go unnoticed.
Anthony said the health ministry would address the issue by providing mental health support for persons at high risk for suicide and training primary healthcare providers to identify and report signs of cognitive problems such as depression.
He said this would enable those persons to receive critical assistance, thereby reducing the risk of attempting or succeeding in committing suicide.
“This bill contemplates that if people need help, that we will be able to respond very quickly and send a team out to that person, or those persons who need help,” the Health Minister said, noting that suicide is a severe problem, but expressed confidence through the enactment of the 38-clause legislation, mechanisms would be put in place to curb suicide and suicide attempts and foster the mental well-being of Guyanese.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud, in expressing support for the bill, underlined the importance of decriminalizing suicide attempts under the law.
“This bill addresses many critical areas, and I believe it is pertinent because, in this country, we are still encountering persons who attempt suicide and self-harm. If persons are to stop… every effort must be made to ensure those persons understand quite clearly that attempting suicide is not a crime, but an appeal for help,” she said.
The bill will address mental health promotion and care across several institutions through government collaboration and cooperation. It will also see schools, employers, and families benefitting from education and awareness campaigns to prevent suicide and suicide attempts.
Policies to punish persons who may play a role in enabling a person to commit or attempt suicide are included in the bill as well.
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