By Shawnette Fiedtkou – Correspondent
The International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF), a Canada-based non-governmental organization, successfully conducted a comprehensive Suicide Prevention Training workshop in Linden over the weekend.
This initiative is part of the ongoing efforts to address mental health challenges in vulnerable communities across Guyana.
The training session, held at Shanghai’s residence in Amelia’s Ward, was facilitated by Shameena Haniff, the Country Manager of IDRF.
Haniff emphasized the importance of reaching communities across Guyana, highlighting the organization’s commitment to ensuring comprehensive coverage.
The training, a component of the “Safeguarding the Human Dignity” and “Rights of Populations At-Risk for Ill-Mental Health in Vulnerable Communities across Guyana” (SPAR) project, is funded by Global Affairs Canada as a five-year multi-million-dollar initiative.
It covered essential topics such as suicide prevention, mental health awareness, identifying at-risk individuals, intervention strategies, crisis communication, and engagement with local resources.
Participants, including social workers and Toshaos from indigenous villages, expressed gratitude for the training and highlighted its importance in addressing mental health issues within their communities.
Melina Pollard, a Toshao from Riversview, and Flagan Carter, a Toshao from Rockstone, emphasized the significance of the tools provided in the training for their respective villages.
The training aims to gather effective data and introduce interventions to reduce Guyana’s suicide rate. At the conclusion of the session, participants received certificates and will serve as active Gatekeepers in their communities.
IDRF plans to extend the training to regions 8 and 1 in the coming weeks, ensuring comprehensive coverage across all ten administrative regions of Guyana.