Students Host Panel to “Change the Narrative”

High school students took the lead in a panel discussion to destigmatise conversations around suicide and “Change the Narrative.” The event was hosted in Belize City to commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day. Organised by the Belize Mental Health Association and UNICEF Belize, in collaboration with the Department of Youth Services, the discussion aimed to equip students with the resources and support necessary for mental health advocacy.

Christa Courtenay, President of the Belize Mental Health Association, stressed the importance of providing a safe space for youths to discuss these issues: “There is a moderator and of course professionals on standby in case we need to intervene. The idea is that they are having conversations anyway. So, we would like to give them a safe space to talk about suicide, suicide prevention, give them tips and ideas.”

Health and Nutrition Specialist at UNICEF Belize, Dr. Olusola Oladegi, noted the need to change societal perceptions surrounding suicide: “What does it mean to change the narrative? For example, we know that suicide is something nobody wants to talk about. We need to talk about it and be sensitive about it.” He urged participants to reframe language surrounding suicide, stating, “We should say this person took his life or this person died by suicide, not that somebody committed suicide.”

The panel discussion also addressed various factors contributing to suicide, including anxiety, depression, family issues, and bullying. One panellist noted the disparity in suicide rates, revealing that “males have a higher suicide rate compared to females, although females may attempt suicide more frequently.”