Guyana to find new strategies

Guyana is seeking to develop and implement strategies aimed at reducing and preventing suicides recognised as a serious public health issue here with nearly 200 deaths annually.



According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, between 2003 and 2007, there were 946 reported suicide deaths at a rate of 25 per 100,000 persons.



The figures show that 80 per cent of all suicides deaths were males and are the leading cause of death among young people age 15-24.



The ministry says that these statistics highlight the need to develop and implement effective suicide prevention strategies but unfortunately, there are few well-conducted studies nationally and globally on interventions for suicide prevention that have demonstrated efficacy in reducing suicide rates.