Consultant Psychiatrist at the Acute Psychiatric Unit (APU), Dr. Nadia Wallace has announced that thus far a total of 11 patients attempted suicide this year, and have been admitted to the Psychiatric Unit at the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital.
Her comments came as Dominica observed World Suicide Prevention Day earlier this week.
“From January to December of 2023 there was a total of 11 patients who were admitted to the Acute Psychiatric Unit after having attempted [suicide],” she revealed. “Out of these 11, seven patients were females and four were males.”
She continued, “The age range for the females was 15 to 30, while for the males the age range was 14 to 48. And that was in 2023.”
Dr. Wallace added, “We are in 2024 right now, we are in September and thus far we had a total of 11 patients who have attempted suicide and have been admitted at the Acute Psychiatric Unit.”
She noted that from the 11 patients this year, seven of them were females and four were males.
“The age range for the females was 13 to 28 and the age range for the males was 20 to 35,” Dr. Wallace revealed.
Furthermore, she announced that the APU has a total of 27 persons who died by suicide within the past five years.
“And in 2023 we had seven and this year 2024 we’ve also had seven,” Dr. Wallace revealed. “And within the past five years this has been the highest.”
Dr. Wallace said focus must be placed on the question, “What can we do?”
Meanwhile, PAHO Regional Advisor on Mental health, Dr. Claudina Cayetano asserted that no one should die because of suicide.
She further stated that suicide is a serious public health problem and if early intervention, identification and suppport is provided people can continue to live life as healthily as possible.
“Over 100,000 people died by suicide in 2019,” she noted. “That is more than the population in Dominica.”
She added, “When you think of that, because of a condition that can be preventable, it’s really heartbreaking.”
Dr. Cayetano believes that everyone has a role to play.
“And when I mentioned to you 100,000 people die before they take their life, before they die by suicide, most times they have attempt up to three times,” she explained.
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