The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Crisis Centre’s hotline has seen an increase in calls this year compared to last year, especially about suicidal thoughts.

Dr Sandra Dean-Patterson, the centre’s director, said most callers have been people who are experiencing violence in the home or those who are being abused or under a lot of stress and may have suicidal thoughts.

She estimates the callers are predominantly women, though men call as well.

She observed that awareness of stress and suicide attempts has grown, influenced by media reports on these issues. This increased consciousness may be prompting more people to reach out for help. Additionally, she was of the opinion that overall stress levels in the country are rising.

During the holiday season, stress levels typically increase due to greater financial burdens and family dynamics. However, Dr Dean-Patterson said the centre has not experienced increased calls during the holidays in previous years.

“I don’t know what this year is going to be like, but you know, many times persons are distracted by the celebration and the Junkanoo and those kinds of things, but after Christmas is probably going to be likely to see more calls, especially people who overspend and overdue during the holiday,” she said.

Police reported a suicide attempt of a 25-year-old woman on Sunday.

Initial reports indicate that shortly after 7.00pm, the woman allegedly ingested a chemical liquid while at a home on Winds Lane.

Police statistics released in April showed suicides decreased by 25 percent in 2023 compared to 2022, while attempted suicides increased by a remarkable 86 per cent.

Six people completed suicide in 2023. Eight did so in 2022. Five of last year’s suicide victims were men. Eighty people attempted suicide last year versus 43 in 2022.