Guyana Foundation Continues Mental Health, Suicide Program

Georgetown: Over the past few weeks, the Guyana Foundation has continued its mental health and suicide prevention program, by conducting training workshops, community outreaches, and other activities on the Essequibo Coast, in Georgetown, and in the Sophia area. On November 30, 2015, the Foundation commenced a new series of workshops on mental health stigma, domestic violence and suicide prevention. This training built on work previously conducted by the Foundation, and was provided by Ms. Lauren Johnson, a Guyanese Canadian psychotherapist. Ms. Johnson is currently in Guyana conducting inspiring experiential work to teach targeted stakeholders practical foundational skills needed to help those in need, and also begin the process of healing their own psychological wounds. The first interactive training – on mental health stigma – was held in the Boardroom at Suddie Public Hospital on the Essequibo Coast, and was attended by local teachers, police officers, members of the Region 2 Working Suicide Prevention Group, and hospital staff. This was followed by a powerful one-day domestic violence workshop in Sophia, that was conducted at Love and Faith Church in collaboration with Agape Network, and a three-days intensive training in Georgetown for volunteers of the Foundation. Community outreaches were held in Pigeon Island on the East Coast of Demerara, and Devonshire Castle on the Essequibo Coast, while Ms. Johnson was also able to conduct a session at the Queenstown Secondary School in Georgetown. The Foundation was invited to return to Devonshire Castle later this month to conduct a follow-up outreach for a larger group of residents. In addition to these activities, the Foundation has also adopted the medical ward at the Suddie Public Hospital. As part of the initial donation to the hospital, the Foundation handed over a 32 inch flat-screen television, two fans, and five large posters of Guyanese images that were donated by local photographer, Mr. James Deeges. These items were received by Dr. Ranjiv Singh on behalf of the hospital. According to Managing Director of the Guyana Foundation, Mr. Anthony Autar, “the Foundation is stepping-up its efforts in the area of mental health and suicide prevention because the local needs are too urgent to sit back and proceed with business as normal. It is imperative that the people of Guyana are provided with the resources and support needed to develop resiliency and cope with various life challenges – and the Foundation will continue to do its part in this endeavor.” “We have an exciting array of programs planned for 2016 that we will unveil over the coming weeks, and will continue to utilize all our resources locally, and around the globe, to develop and implement innovative programs to bring relief to our fellow Guyanese.” “The Foundation is deeply grateful to its financial donors and other partners who have collectively helped to make these recent activities a possibility. This generous group includes the Ms. Lauren Johnson, Caribbean American Students Association at the University of Pennsylvania, Demerara Bank, A & R Jiwanram Printery, the Region 2 Working Suicide Prevention Group, Halim Majeed, Jack Bharat, David and Samantha Persaud, Sherine Griffith, Nadiya Butt, Keith Giddings, Tekesha Narine, Kumarie Ramcharran, Mrs. Sattie Ramnauth, Dr. Sonia Gray, Dr. Ranjiv Singh, the Foundation’s Trustees, and volunteers – Kerese Harrinandan, James Deeges and Gomin and Doranie Camacho.”