In the USA National Suicide Prevention
Week is from 8th Sep to 14th Sep.

Our Government here has not designated
such a week or even a day to promote suicide prevention.

In fact this country, using the words
from the Press Release we have received and published today from the
Alex Panton Foundation (APF) says:

“The Cayman Islands are among the
minority of countries that have archaic laws that still criminalizes
suicide or attempted suicide. The decriminalization of suicide would
align the Cayman Islands with other progressive Commonwealth
countries. There are no reported cases of prosecution being sought
for those who attempt suicide in the Cayman Islands and this is in
line with the view that suicide should be decriminalized. Treatment,
rather than prosecution, is the appropriate and recommended response
for a person struggling with a mental health crisis. Treating suicide
as a crime as opposed to a mental health issue further perpetuates
the stigma that currently shrouds mental illness. This perception
creates a barrier that stops people seeking appropriate treatment.
Furthermore, those who attempt suicide are currently unable to access
insurance benefits due to the act being considered a crime, hence
preventing treatment and support to address the underlying mental
health difficulties and the chance of a better life.”

It does seem incredible that the APF
have had to bring this to the attention of the public here and make a
submission to the Law Reform Commission to decriminalize suicide.

Even the brain of the most stupid bird
on this planet can see that the number one barrier to stop someone
committing suicide is the act itself – DEATH. No man made laws come
anywhere near to make someone contemplating suicide than death so it
is pointless. Furthermore, the rate of attempted and actual suicide
is on a rise in the Cayman Islands, particularly amongst our children
and young adults.

Each year, on average, almost 5000
people die of suicide in England and Wales. The 1992 Health of the
Nation aimed to reduce the suicide rate by 15% by 2000. The 1999
Department of Health National Service Framework sought to cut the
suicide risk by a further fifth from this target.1 There has been
significant pressure on mental health services to improve risk
assessment in order to reduce the suicide rate. This implies that
suicide is mainly seen as a medical or psychiatric issue – a mental
illness.

See
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4222167/

We also have the cases of
“physician-assisted suicides” and euthanasia, where people are so
ill, or have suffered such catastrophic injuries life is unbearable
with the pain, no cure, etc.. to die is a mercy, not only for them
but their love ones. These challenge the idea that suicide
necessarily arises from a mental illness.

Many doctors have published papers that
highlight the difficulties psychiatry encounters when facing suicide.
Not all who commit suicide are mentally ill. Mental illness is often
not clearly distinguishable from normal distress.

It is also clear that psychiatrists
from time to time face cases in which suicide is a rational option.

I urge everyone to support the APF in their endeavors to decriminalize suicide. They have a support group, “Living with Anxiety and Depression” that will take place every Saturday starting 14th September at George Town Town Hall. This peer-led support group aimed at young adults ages 18 – 25 living with anxiety and depression is absolutely free to attend.