Moving from suicide reporting to telling stories about mental health and wellness in Guyana

The GPA held a similar workshop in April 2016 at a time when Guyana was becoming famous as the suicide capital' of the world.


The workshop was held on 20 July, 2019. The GPA invited me to participate in the workshop in a collaborative session with Dr Paloma Mohammed around the impact of media reporting.
I was not able to present or participate properly due to my own mental health issues.

In thinking back about the workshop and the discussions, I felt that I would have done a presentation with a title 'Moving from suicide reporting to telling stories about mental health and wellness in Guyana'.

I agreed with a journalist in the session who said there was no need to report on individual suicides. I have noticed a drop in the reporting, but there are still problems when the reports are done. The GPA is working on guidelines.

I had written the following articles around mental health a few years ago. These are not journalistic.


 I would like to see stories  about mental health in Guyana which would answer the following questions :-

  • How do Guyanese define/perceive 'mental health and wellness? How different is that perception from the WHO definition? 
  • Some areas in Guyana have been researched and reported as suicide hotspots. What are the differences between these areas, and similar areas around Guyana? 
  • One indigenous village, Baramita for example was highlighted and different initiatives were introduced including the restriction of alcohol. There are other Amerindian villages which have restricted alcohol. How has this restriction contributed to the mental and physical health of the villagers from the communities? 
  • How are journalists, nurses, teachers, police, social workers , others in the caring professions dealing with their mental health issues?
  • How are Guyanese dealing with other self destructive behaviours ? What connections are made between dealing with self-destructive behaviours and working on good mental health.
  • What does 'counselling' look like ? How can persons who are seeking help know that they are dealing with someone who is actually delivering? Who can people complain to if they are not satisfied with the counsellors?
  • Who manages the hotlines? What happens when I call a hotline? What happens if I have a problem with the person who is talking to me on the hotline? How can the hotline help?
  • What kind of training is available for people who want to help?
  • What are people's experiences of dealing with mental health? How are people recovering from, managing their mental health? 
  • What  kinds of support are available to promote good mental health and wellness in Guyana?  Especially outside of Georgetown.
  • What is the experience of dealing with post-partum depression in Guyana?
  • How are communities dealing with the isolation of the elderly and those who are house bound? 
  • What are the signs of the different mental health disorders? What is the treatment available, if any is needed?
  • How are people coping with loneliness? What resources exist outside of Georgetown?
  • How is the society handling bullying in schools and other places?
  • How do the different faith traditions view mental health in Guyana? What is the impact of these faiths and beliefs on mental health and wellness?
  • Where are alternative/complimentary resources like meditation, yoga available? Who are the people who have benefited from them?
  • What are the gender differences in dealing with mental health in Guyana? How have Guyanese overcome the gender barriers to achieving good mental health?
  • How are Guyanese going to deal with the fear and anxiety around elections? How have Guyanese survived previous elections and traumatic events?
  • What are the community factors - the protective factors - that help to promote good mental health in Guyana. Which communities have best practices to share? 
  • How are people dealing with the problems of alcohol use ? What are the stories from people who have stopped drinking ? What are the challenges to those who are trying to stop drinking? Where are the support mechanisms for people who want to stop drinking? Especially outside of Georgetown?
I am sure there many other stories which could be told. 




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