Only Suriname (in second) and Guyana, in first place, have higher rates of suicides per capita. In 2012, 193 suicides were reported in TT, of which 146 were males.
WHO studies have shown that 800,000 people commit suicide every year and 20,000 more attempt it. A WHO study in 2012 showed that in the 15- 34 age group, Guyana had a 50.2 percent suicide rate per 100,000; Suriname 50 percent per 100,000; TT 41.8 percent per 100,000; Cuba 13.2 percent per 100,000. In the 35-54 age group, the suicide rates for these countries were 30.7, 29.2, 38.3 and 36.8 percent respectively.
Prof Gerard Hutchinson, psychiatrist and Head (Clinical Medical Sciences) at the University of the West Indies (UWI), said suicide is under reported as it remains associated with stigma and shame. Hutchinson was speaking at a Suicide Media Sensitisation workshop on Tuesday at the Hilton Trinidad, St Ann’s. The workshop was geared at sensitising the media on ways they should provide responsible and ethical coverage of suicide attempts.
It was noted that sometimes the way reports were carried may encourage others to imitate the act.
Hutchinson said the rates remain relatively high and while middle aged males were most affected, the numbers were increasing among men generally. He said pesticides remains the main suicide method of choice, followed by hanging.
Prof Hutchinson noted that 61 percent of suicides are committed by East Indians in Central and South Trinidad in rural and agricultural communities.
This was attributed to the fact that pesticides such as gramoxone are more accessible in these areas.
Hutchinson said the economy, relationship and family issues were most implicated, with alcohol consumption being a significant factor.
He said most people did not seek mental health help before they committed suicide and high impulsivity, positive family history of suicidal behaviour, underlying mental illness and post traumatic stress disorder were all factors in suicides.
He added that the commonest method of suicide attempts were ingestion of tablets and household substances such as bleach.
Hutchinson said restriction to access of toxic chemicals, recognition of mental disorders and training of mental health professionals could reduce suicides.
He noted that more men committed suicide because they used more lethal means and were therefore able to complete the act. He said women tended to have a greater risk of developing depression and would more engage in suicide attempts.
Dr Roshan Parasram, chief medical officer at the Health Ministry, said depression was one of the most important risk factors for suicide. Suicide is largely preventable, but the stigma related to it prevents people from seeking treatment and they are often left on their own to battle personal demons.
Efforts to prevent suicide needed to be comprehensive, integrated and synergistic as no single approach could impact alone on a complex issue such as suicide, he said. He added that sensational reporting on suicides could result in copycat behaviour of suicide, particularly if the coverage was extensive, sensational and explicitly described the method of the suicide.
Responsible media reporting on suicides, he said, has been shown to be an effective strategy for reducing suicide rates.
There was also evidence to suggest that responsible reporting on suicides may serve to educate the public about suicides and encourage those at risk to seek help.
Dr Bernadette Theodore- Gandi, Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)/ WHO Country Office representative, said every suicide was a tragedy and should never be trivialised nor sensationalised, as it impacted on the families, friends and communities.
