The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas has recorded six suicides less than three months into the year –– already matching 2023’s total and surpassing half of last year’s total of eight.

A man in his 20s was found hanging at a home in Star Estates off Prince Charles Drive on Friday.

Chief Superintendent Marcus Sands, head of the Eastern Division, said police received a report of the apparent suicide sometime after 4pm. He said a family member made the discovery.

Officers found the man hanging in the kitchen area of the home. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) pronounced him lifeless. An autopsy will be performed.

The death marked the second alleged suicide last week.

“This is definitely concerning to us,” CSP Sands said. “We can’t say the cause of this particular one.”

According to police statistics, there were eight suicides in 2024, up from six in 2023.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr John Dillett told The Tribune on Friday that every suicide case is different and requires thorough investigation to determine the underlying causes.

He noted that a growing sense of hopelessness appears to be affecting many people, something he has observed in both his patients and general conversations. According to him, factors such as financial struggles, mental health challenges, and domestic issues contribute to feelings of despair.

Dr Dillett also pointed to the stigma surrounding mental health, which prevents many from speaking openly about their struggles. He said the country’s mental health resources remain inadequate, a situation made worse by the effects of the pandemic and years of limited investment in care.

Although men and women experience depression at similar rates, Dr Dillett said men are more likely to die by suicide because of the methods they use. He added that women tend to express their emotions more freely and seek support, whereas men often feel pressured to suppress their struggles.

He also warned that economic pressures, crime, and lingering affects of the pandemic have led to increased anxiety and depression. As more people turn to substance use as a coping mechanism, he said, impulsivity rises, which can increase suicidal thoughts and actions.

Dr Dillett said the rising suicide numbers are alarming, adding that each case can have a ripple affect, reinforcing suicidal thoughts in others who are struggling.