“POLICE are investigating another suspected case of suicide.”
Those words have been dominating headlines for the past few weeks in Barbados as a startling number of young men between the ages of 20 and 40 took their own lives.The phenomenom, while not new to Barbados, has been causing concern.
Coroner Faith Marshall-Harris is among those who have been vocal about the trend of suicides in recent weeks.“It’s a growing problem at the moment,” she said candidly. “Just in the last few days I’ve had reports of two cases that could be looked at in terms of being labelled as suicide.”
The coroner heard 51 inquests last year, nine of which were suicides – six involving young men – who took their lives between 2004 and 2008.
Of the six suicides investigated by the court in 2009, five were young men ranging in ages from 18 to 28 years, with one being 40 years old.
“Clearly, we’re not treating symptoms that could lead to suicide as well as we can,” Marshall-Harris said.
“We’re getting depressions as a result of failed relationships and this seems to be becoming particularly prevalent.”
While there has also been a drug-related element attached to some suicides, Marshall-Harris noted the recent rise in suicides had been linked mainly to failed relationships, financial problems and, latterly, HIV diagnosis.
The coroner added that in some instances even after the death of the person, the families still wanted to suppress the circumstances surrounding the suicide.
The issue of men being able to cope with life’s challenges is one that many counsellors see as challenging to many Barbadian males.
“Stress or distress is a big factor for a man, especially if he recognizes that things are not coming through for him. He may see himself as less than a person and seek to take his own life,” says Rev. Haynesley Griffith of Family Heartbeat Ministries.
“While women would cry or smash up a few things, men are more at risk because they hold their emotions inside.”
Griffith also feels that the problems related to suicide must be looked at holistically.
“There is no doubt that we do have a family problem. A lot of it comes down to the home environment,” he said. “If you’re coming from an unhealthy home environment, it will reflect itself in behaviours.”
Griffith further revealed that there are a number of children that attempt suicide in their pre-teens but these cases are never read about or heard about.
“It’s not a lower class thing,” he said. “The problem comes up from the foundation.
“The tension which is built up is going to manifest itself in their early 20s, especially when young men get into relationships that detract from their self-esteem.
”Experts urge families to be vigilant and attentive about the problems their loved ones may be facing.
“Families should pay attention, be honest and seek help,” Marshall-Harris said. “Sometimes I think people see it as being weak, especially young men who buy into that and don’t want to express how they feel.”