Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 07 September 2019 (PAHO/WHO) - World Mental Health Day is held on October 10th each year. It is a day of recognition and acknowledgement of persons living with mental illness. Additionally, it is a day that raises awareness of behavourial health and overall wellness. This year's theme was "Working Together to Prevent Suicide".
The Ministry of Health of Trinidad and Tobago has been working assiduously towards a National Suicide Prevention Strategy that is geared towards the adaptation of a, 'whole of Government and whole of society approach' to prevent the loss of life due to suicide. This year, in commemoration of World Mental Health Day, the Ministry of Health held a "Paint de Town Green" Behavioural and Wellness Fair at the Atrium, Gulf City Mall, La Romaine.
Dr. Eldonna Boisson of the Pan American Health Organization touched on key topics pertaining to the 800,000 people who die each year due to suicide, Trinidad and Tobago having the 5th highest suicide rate in the region, and the delicate age (14) at which half of all mental health conditions begin. Furthermore, she expressed PAHO/WHO's pleasure in being able to collaborate with the Minsitry of Health to work towards strengthening the country's suicide prevention response and the important step that has been taken in the form of the multi-sectoral Suicide Prevention Strategy 2020-2025.
Additionally, she expressed the seriousness of suicide as a public health issue and briefly gave a break down of the key risk factors for suicide by dividing them into three categories:
- Health System and Society: (1) Barriers to accessing health care; (2) Easy availability of the means of suicide; (3) Inappropriate media reporting; (4) Stigma associated with help-seeking behaviours.
- Community and Relationship: (1) Stresses of acculturation and dislocation; (2) Sense of isolation and lack of social support; (3) Disaster, war and conflicts; (4) Trauma or abuse.
- Individual: (1) Previous suicide attempts , mental health problems, harmful use of alcohol, financial loss, chronic pain and a family history of suicide.
Dr. Boisson closed her address by stating that suicide prevention is everyone's responsibility from the governmental level to the man on the street and reaffirmed PAHO/WHO's commitment to raise awareness, build capacity and to support countries to ensure that people with mental health conditions can live with dignity, through human rights oriented policy and law, respect for informed consent to treatment, inclusion in decision-making processes, and public information campaigns.
