National Assembly approves Suicide Prevention Bill in Guyana

CMC – The National Assembly has approved the Suicide Prevention Bill 2022 decriminalising suicide in Guyana and marking a major step in the country’s move to address mental health countrywide.

The bill seeks to provide measures to fight the high numbers suicide that have pervaded Guyana’s society for a number of years. Guyana has one of the world’s highest rates of suicide. A 2012 World Health Organization (WHO) report indicated that Guyana had a suicide rate of 44.2 per 100,000 people.

The new legislation will also allow for the provision of suicide prevention services and support to survivors of suicide, persons with suicidal ideations, and support for those who lost loved ones to suicide.

The legislation also allows for the establishment of a National Suicide Prevention Commission, which will serve in an advisory position to the Minister of Human Services and Social Security in regards to legislation and regulations surrounding suicide prevention and mental health support.

The commission will also be responsible for the preparation of a National Suicide Prevention Plan, the planning, design and implementation of public programmes to reduce suicides and suicide attempts in the country, sensitisation and awareness training on suicide and suicide prevention, and the establishment of Suicide Prevention Centres across Guyana.

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