From all accounts a beautiful soul died last week by suicide. From all accounts she was a vibrant, intelligent young woman who was full of potential but who for years suffered with mental health issues. Because I did not know this young lady personally and I do not have the permission of her family I will not name her in this space but I still want to share that she died.

She should not have died. She was one of too many Guyanese who felt that they had no hope and their only alternative was to take their own lives. This young woman’s death trended on Facebook last week with many asking that it not be in vain but rather a wakeup call that mental health is real.

“Let what happened to [name of the young lady] be a reminder that we, young people, are fighting a losing battle against mental illnesses,” one person said on Facebook.

“We have lost someone so young, at the peak of their life, and her energy, her light is irreplaceable, unforgettable and undeniable,” the individual continued, adding that while they only had a few conversations with her they “feel this loss like if a member of my own family just died”.

Saying they were “enraged”, they questioned how many more young future leaders must the country lose before all “work together to create a society in Guyana with the adequate mental health care we need as the youth?

“What more do we need to do, to say? Must we scream from the rooftops, cry in front of offices? How much more do we need to show the time for mental health action is now?

“We are the next generation and if the old guard isn’t going to protect us, it is time we work together and protect ourselves.

“I’m urging you, begging you young people that if you know someone who’s suffering, or if you yourself are suffering, to reach out to someone, anyone, a peer, a friend, even me if you need to, but know that you are not and will never be alone. You are so much stronger than you know.”

Another individual noted that while a great soul was lost and no one knew her pain we can still learn from her situation.

“Be the person you wanna become, let no man or woman, family or friends tell you how to live your life. We all came here for a purpose and we need to follow our hearts and achieve what we need,” the individual reminded, encouraging readers to think positive for our future and “forget about all the wicked mind who will brainwash you.

“Seek counselling when you think you need it, it helps a lot. Never regret living your life to please yourself and be happy for who you are becoming because at the end of the day you’re being yourself and no one is in control of you,” the individual advised.

“Professional help of course is the best help but oftentimes in our society the same services persons access is not reliable. Confidentiality most times is the number one issue and discrimination,” were the sobering words of this young individual.

Who can doubt the above statement? We have all seen and experienced how unprofessional some healthcare workers can be even though they are there to assist persons when they are most vulnerable.

There were other posts which questioned the kinds of friends this young woman had and why they had not done more to assist her. There were some rebuttals that friends had been assisting her way back as in 2013 and that she was in therapy. I don’t believe it was right to call out her friends now because in doing so one might even be contributing to the mental meltdown of another individual, as I am sure many of those who were close to her are now filled with guilt and questioning whether there was more they could have done to assist her.

I am not a trained mental health professional, but from what I have read and learnt over the years, there comes a time when there is nothing you can do if someone wants to take their own life. Yes, professional assistance helps. And yes when we listen to our friends who have mental health issues we should guide them towards that help or even take them there. But we can do all of that and yet the person ends his/her life. So please let’s not blame this young woman’s friends. I believe they are hurting enough. Instead, we can use her death as yet another wakeup call.

Last Sunday World Mental Health Day was observed. According to the World Health Organisation the day is to raise awareness of and mobilize efforts in support of mental health.

“The day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide,” WHO said.

It is sad that this young lady died soon after this day was observed in Guyana.

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), in a statement to mark that day, noted among other things that achieving mental health care as a reality for all, calls for a whole society approach. Civil society, faith-based organisations, private sector and community-based organisations can support and promote mental well-being and prevent mental and substance-related disorders, the statement noted.

“Health professionals are reminded of their duty of care to all persons, whether they have physical and/or mental issues,” CARPHA added.

It said:

• Governments are urged to ensure equitable access to mental health services for all who need it.

• Civil society organisations are encouraged to support for public education and awareness about mental illness and

• The private sector can provide support for mental health services in employment packages and ensure that workplace policies do not discriminate against persons with mental illness.

“Most of all, we as individuals need to take time for ourselves. We need to practice healthy living to preserve mental well-being. That includes self-care, healthy eating, physical activity, positive thinking, practicing mindfulness, connecting with friends, family or pets and mindfulness, or taking time to do something we enjoy,” the statement said.

As a reminder, there were some sobering statistics revealed recently by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security: of 147 suicide cases, 120 were men. No time period was given. Nineteen of those were aged five to 19 years, while 109 were between 20 and 60 years. Regions Three, Four and Six accounted for the largest numbers of those deaths. Worrisome also is the fact that during the first half of 2021, 30 children attempted suicide with 25 being girls. Reports revealed that approximately 30% of children aged 15-19 years couldn’t share their problems with anyone.

If you are experiencing depression or feeling suicidal, please call the Mental Health Unit on 223-0001 or 223-0009. You can also call or text 623-4444 or 6007892. A 24/7 toll free ‘Safe Space’ number 655-7233 was launched recently as a collaboration between the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company and the Pan American Health Organization. It aims to provide access to support for people who are unable to have face-toface interactions.