Suicide prevention plan coming

Responding to questions from JSC chairman Dr Dhanayshar Mahabir, Hutchinson said there is no publicly run suicide hotline in TT. He added there is one run by non-governmental organisation Lifeline. Hutchinson said, “As part of the suicide prevention plan that is being developed and will be implemented soon, is a proposal to either work alongside Lifeline supplementing their service or or setting up an alternative hotline which the ministry could fund and support.” Hutchinson said Lifeline has been experiencing problems with getting volunteers for its service.

Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Vishwanath Partapsingh said this was an element of a wider “suicide surveillance system” which will supplement existing health sector protocols to treat with people who may be contemplating suicide.

Hutchinson explained that self harm and suicide can be a feature of several different types of mental illnesses. He also said stress is something would could result in people becoming mentally ill.

Hutchinson said people who were sexually abused as children, are likely to develop mental health problems when faced with situations such as unemployment or relationship problems.

Responding to a question from Cumuto/ Manzanilla MP Christine Newallo Hosein, Hutchinson said, “In situations where there is increased social stress, you do see more mental illness.” However he added that some people are more resilient in dealing with stress than others. St Ann’s Hospital Medical Chief of Staff, Dr Hazel Ann Othello, said some drugs used to treat mental illnesses are available on the Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP).