By Chantalé Fletcher
THERE is help for people on a 24-hour basis with suicidal thoughts.
This according to Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh as he extended condolences to the surviving families and children of the Princes Town couple who committed suicide over the weekend.
FINDCARETT has a series of 24\7 helplines which includes services such as counselling, listening, de-escalation and referrals, he said.
Deyalsingh was responding to an Urgent Question by Opposition Senator Wade Mark in the Senate on Tuesday.
Mark asked Deyalsingh about preventative measures to identify early warning signs as well as to avoid suicidal deaths.
Deyalsingh said, “We at the Ministry of Health have been engaged in the training of doctors and nurses to identify the early warning signs of suicide.
“We have done suicide risk training for all doctors and mental health and mental gap training with Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) for all first responders.”
He said that ads for help via FindCareTT were highlighted on mainstream media.
When enquired about steps to ramp up sensitivity about suicide, Deyalsingh made reference to FindCareTT which was launched last year.
He stated on the app, the menu talks about suicide prevention, coping materials, steps to take if contemplating suicide and much more.
In addition, Deyalsingh also mentioned his conversation with Director of Mental Health Dr Hazel Othello about warning signs of suicide.
He said, “Sometimes we associate suicidal aggregations with people who are sad and that is correct for depressive tendencies, but she also indicated to look out for people who suddenly feel happy because those people made a decision and they are happy with that decision.”
Deyalsingh stated planning to make a will, feeling hopeless, planning ways to kill one’s self, increasing drug use and reckless behaviours were some of the signs that the population should be alerted to look for suicide.
Steve Jugmohan, 40, and his common-law wife Sharlene Ramkissoon, 38, hanged themselves in the presence of their nine-year-old daughter.
The couple lived at La Paille Road, Princes Town, and recorded a video in front of their daughter stating what was about to happen and asking relatives to take care of their children.
