Let us give credit to President Granger for this excellent move. Kudos President Granger,

Give him credit for tackling the issue head-on.

Now, is weh Tola deh!

Why are the NGOs not involved in this discussion? 

VishMahabir posted:

Why are the NGOs not involved in this discussion? 

Tola's NGO effort failed, so Granger taking the bull by the horn.

Seriously, this is a national issue and the Govt is correct in taking the lead.  NGOs could get involved but under a common framework so they're not shooting up blind allies like Tola for 10 years with nothing to show!

Quote:

"The outcome of the meeting is a plan of action, which will see Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Religious organisations and other Civil Society organisations being engaged to work togetherwith Government on a centralised approach to suicide prevention."

Tola can now hold this government responsible and stop crying about PPP not helping. Granger is reaching out to NGO's. 

Where is Tola ?

Has Guyana got a suicide helpline like that have in many countries? I know someone in the UK who is a support councillor with a special suicide hotline installed in her home. So callers go through a call centre and are automatically diverted anonymously to her for free advice and help. The phone number is also widely publicised. 

There should be a massive campaign by sending an appealing message "your life matters" on large billboards,TV, radio, newspapers and other media in all regions.

baseman posted:

VishMahabir posted:

Why are the NGOs not involved in this discussion? 

Tola's NGO effort failed, so Granger taking the bull by the horn.

Seriously, this is a national issue and the Govt is correct in taking the lead.  NGOs could get involved but under a common framework so they're not shooting up blind allies like Tola for 10 years with nothing to show!

Where IS Tola? Still tending to those cows?

I communicated with him via this forum as to the programs he delivers and how I can help and he never answered.  I am starting to get the feeling that this guy is not the real deal.  I hope he is working with the Minister of Social Protection and his new government to help deliver effective results since he is an expert in the field of suicide prevention.  There is a need for individuals like him so I hope he steps up his programs and work on a massive outreach.

Bibi Haniffa posted:

I communicated with him via this forum as to the programs he delivers and how I can help and he never answered.  I am starting to get the feeling that this guy is not the real deal.  I hope he is working with the Minister of Social Protection and his new government to help deliver effective results since he is an expert in the field of suicide prevention.  There is a need for individuals like him so I hope he steps up his programs and work on a massive outreach.

Bibi sometimes individuals don't like to communicate on a thread,why don't you PM Tola that is more private.

Bibi Haniffa posted:

I communicated with him via this forum as to the programs he delivers and how I can help and he never answered.  I am starting to get the feeling that this guy is not the real deal.  I hope he is working with the Minister of Social Protection and his new government to help deliver effective results since he is an expert in the field of suicide prevention.  There is a need for individuals like him so I hope he steps up his programs and work on a massive outreach.

The more I read about Tola's NGO work, the more suspicious I get.

What is there to hide if his organization is legit ?

Let him post the organization's name, whether it is recognized by the government of Canada or USA and members can help.

What is there to hide ?

yuji22 posted:

Bibi Haniffa posted:

I communicated with him via this forum as to the programs he delivers and how I can help and he never answered.  I am starting to get the feeling that this guy is not the real deal.  I hope he is working with the Minister of Social Protection and his new government to help deliver effective results since he is an expert in the field of suicide prevention.  There is a need for individuals like him so I hope he steps up his programs and work on a massive outreach.

The more I read about Tola's NGO work, the more suspicious I get.

What is there to hide if his organization is legit ?

Let him post the organization's name, whether it is recognized by the government of Canada or USA and members can help.

What is there to hide ?

Oww bhaiya why you think Tola is fake,i am sure he is genuine.

As I said before about Tola, he can tell us all he wants about his activities. There is none of us to verify his claims. I thought he might be beating his own drum. I think Tola is somewhere in the room with Granja. He is just not that important to be in the picture.

Django posted:

yuji22 posted:

Bibi Haniffa posted:

I communicated with him via this forum as to the programs he delivers and how I can help and he never answered.  I am starting to get the feeling that this guy is not the real deal.  I hope he is working with the Minister of Social Protection and his new government to help deliver effective results since he is an expert in the field of suicide prevention.  There is a need for individuals like him so I hope he steps up his programs and work on a massive outreach.

The more I read about Tola's NGO work, the more suspicious I get.

What is there to hide if his organization is legit ?

Let him post the organization's name, whether it is recognized by the government of Canada or USA and members can help.

What is there to hide ?

Oww bhaiya why you think Tola is fake,i am sure he is genuine.

I did some research on suicide prevention NGOs in Guyana and couldn't find one.  I am sure if Tola puts his organization's name out there he will get a lot of support.  This issue is near and dear to the hearts of many.  This is a nonpartisan issue.  It has nothing to do with politics and which party we belong to.  Everyone should be on board. 

I was surprise to hear from President Obama last night, that 20,000 Americans die from suicide in a year by the bullet, leaving out many more suicide deaths by other means.This is a global problem, higher in poorer countries. Education, education is the cheapest cure, also one has to address mental issues. The family unit , the church and the entire village has to get involved. Young people in Guyana have too many idle time, and nothing to do, go back to the days of Boy Scout, Girl Guides, Youth clubs,Community Centers, the schools need to create more extra curriculum to keep the students busy.'" An idle mind does the crime".

Good move.  I wonder why it took so long given that it was one of the main item on the APNU/AFC agenda.  I wonder when we will get a true assessment on how effective the suicide hotline is.

It will take a massive effort to curb suicides in Guyana.  The people that kill themselves are not all mentally ill.  A lot of the suicides are spontaneous reactions to relatively minor problems.  Maybe a lot of it is due to peer and societal pressure.  One thing for sure is that a lot of education and support is needed in Guyana.

Mr. T is right on another thread; they need to study why Indians tend to commit suicide more than other races in Guyana.  They could only get answers by interviewing relatives and friends of the victims.

VVV, You dont need no study.  The reason is in the poor areas kids havee to do Farming for the family to be able to eat, which means little or no Education.

Is it that the Indian families are not open to listen to their childrens' opinion? The Indian fathers and mothers are set in their ways and want their children to follow. They believe in "I pay the bills and buy the groceries, I make the rules here and you will listen to me". Some don't believe that their children need any companionship from the outside..

Mr. President, wah yuh wan to findout the reason why young people kill demselves? In case u doan know, then leh me tell yuh. For all reasons under the sun deh tek dem lives. So, Mr. President wid all the discussions wid the Ministers, yuh should be able to tell us wah is de government action.

The problem is real. What is the solution?

skeldon_man posted:

Is it that the Indian families are not open to listen to their childrens' opinion? The Indian fathers and mothers are set in their ways and want their children to follow. They believe in "I pay the bills and buy the groceries, I make the rules here and you will listen to me". Some don't believe that their children need any companionship from the outside..

Well, I see it all boils down to EDucation. If you notice, is mostly kids in the country side doing this. EDucatiomn opportunities are not the same and with this Govt, it will be worst!!!

skeldon_man posted:

Is it that the Indian families are not open to listen to their childrens' opinion? The Indian fathers and mothers are set in their ways and want their children to follow. They believe in "I pay the bills and buy the groceries, I make the rules here and you will listen to me". Some don't believe that their children need any companionship from the outside..

I think many of suicides stems from relationships between males and females. It goes wrong. And the victims see no ways for continue living.

I doan know what the government can do about that. It may be a cultural thing.

20% of clinically depressed people in the US commit suicide.  The mental health community in Guyana has to deal with the issue. It is a mental health issue.

Billy Ram Balgobin posted:

20% of clinically depressed people in the US commit suicide.  The mental health community in Guyana has to deal with the issue. It is a mental health issue.

All suicides in Guyana are not mental health related.  I know someone who got drunk and drank poison because he had problems with his girlfriend.  Luckily, he didn't die.  He stopped drinking from that day and is a very productive member of society today.

We need to focus initially on the on preventing suicides from relationship break-up,  I bet that's a big percentage of the suicides in Guyana.

Mental illness suicides can be lessened by having people properly diagnosed and given medical treatment...this might be a huge task in Guyana.

Please give us a breakdown of the suicides that are related to broken heart and clinical depression. 

Billy Ram Balgobin posted:

Please give us a breakdown of the suicides that are related to broken heart and clinical depression. 

Well that's where they need to start.  They need to identify the various categories/causes of suicides and start trying to prevent the "low hanging ones." 

VVP posted:

Billy Ram Balgobin posted:

20% of clinically depressed people in the US commit suicide.  The mental health community in Guyana has to deal with the issue. It is a mental health issue.

All suicides in Guyana are not mental health related.  I know someone who got drunk and drank poison because he had problems with his girlfriend.  Luckily, he didn't die.  He stopped drinking from that day and is a very productive member of society today.

We need to focus initially on the on preventing suicides from relationship break-up,  I bet that's a big percentage of the suicides in Guyana.

Mental illness suicides can be lessened by having people properly diagnosed and given medical treatment...this might be a huge task in Guyana.

That is common in the homeland.

Mr.T posted:

Has Guyana got a suicide helpline like that have in many countries? 

Go ask the PNC!

seignet posted:

skeldon_man posted:

Is it that the Indian families are not open to listen to their childrens' opinion? The Indian fathers and mothers are set in their ways and want their children to follow. They believe in "I pay the bills and buy the groceries, I make the rules here and you will listen to me". Some don't believe that their children need any companionship from the outside..

I think many of suicides stems from relationships between males and females. It goes wrong. And the victims see no ways for continue living.

I doan know what the government can do about that. It may be a cultural thing.

Make problem solving, managing relationship and failure part of the classroom psychology training.  It starts with the young.  The solutions and results will take time.  The temples, mosques and churches have a role to play.