New NGO gears to offer suicide prevention training

Guyanese now have the opportunity to tackle suicide head-on with the launching of a suicide prevention skills training programme.

The programme was launched by PATOIS (Personal Achievement to Overcome Individual Struggles) and is aimed at persons who are most likely to encounter potential suicide victims.

In an interview with Stabroek News, Ingrid Goodman, Executive Director of PATOIS, explained that the programme is a much-needed one in Guyana. She believes that the suicide is a mental disorder and is linked to poor socialisation.

“For a small country like this – for so many people to not be able to function on a daily basis – is saying something is wrong. At the root of it is culture,” Goodman said.

She continued, “These persons were not socialised so as a result of that when they can’t figure things out