The Ministry of Social and Community Development Housing and Gender Affairs extends condolences to the family, friends, co-workers, and neighbours of those who have lost loved ones by suicide in the last several weeks and months.
Suicide is a serious global public health problem that has been on the rise, with lasting effects on individuals, families, and communities. It can touch anyone who has difficulties coping, anywhere. So far this year, 5 people have died by suicide, and that number is too many.
The goal of the Psycho-Social Support Unit at the Ministry is to reduce the factors that increase suicide risk and promote good mental health and resilience.
Mental illness is indeed real and can happen regardless of age, class, socio-economic background, race, or ethnicity. Depression and anxiety are the most common forms of mental health which can lead to suicide. Despite this, suicide is preventable. There is hope. You can receive help to feel better, irrespective of what your present situation is telling you.
Suicide prevention requires strategies at all levels of society. It includes everyone; we need you to support, listen, care, and refer for professional help if the need arises. It also requires every individual to learn the suicide warning signs.
Here are some common warning signs:
Talking about
- Wanting to die or “disappear”
- Feeling guilt or shame
- Being a burden to others
Feeling
- Empty, hopeless, trapped, or having no reason to live
- Extremely sad, more anxious, agitated, or full of rage
- Unbearable emotional or physical pain
Changing behaviour, such as
- Making a plan or researching ways to die
- Withdrawing from friends, saying goodbye, giving away important items, or making a will
- Taking dangerous risks such as driving extremely fast
- Displaying extreme mood swings
- Eating or sleeping more or less
- Using drugs or alcohol more often
Other signs include:
- Previous suicide attempts
- Family history of suicide
- Childhood abuse, neglect, or trauma
- Recent loss (relational, social, work, or financial)
- Untreated mental illness
If you are feeling alone and having thoughts of suicide, or if you know someone who is exhibiting any of the warning signs, please do not remain silent. Talk to someone you can trust and reach out to a counsellor for professional help. We are here to assist; you do not have to carry this heavy burden alone. Here are some local contacts that you can reach out to:
- Ministry of Social & Community Development, Housing and Gender Affairs: 440-2269
- Sweet Water Foundation: 407-4445
- Legal Aid & Counselling Clinic: 440-3785
It may feel hopeless, but all is not lost; you can be helped. As a nation, let us continue to work together to prevent suicide as “Together, we can save lives.”
GIS
A Christian can claim the promise of Hope: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:3-6).
Grenada is not the place to be depressed and get help as we ate driven by social media and too many of our mentally ill citizens are walking the street without any or very little support.
We all knows someone who is in need of some sort of mental health help but never receives it because they are no treat to the general public so the carry on as normal until they flip and get sent in for their fix and then release back on the street.
Grenada don’t have resources to truly help these people on a long term basis therefore it is usual today you in tomorrow you out.
Despondence and a loss of self-esteem are correlated to our sense of dignity. Giving away our lands and restricting access to our beaches have caused an increased in crime and suicide. We the good people of Grenada call on De Con to start making smart policy decisions while taking these factors into account.