Sep 26, 2026
3 min read
Someone does not have to look like they are struggling to need support.
That is the message from psychologist Joses Solomon, who is urging people to check in on family and friends more often, even when there are no obvious signs of emotional distress.
Her call comes amid recent suspected suicide cases in Guyana and a renewed focus on what families and communities can do before someone reaches a crisis point.
Solomon says suicide is complex and can be influenced by emotional distress, trauma, financial difficulties, homelessness and a lack of support.
But she says having people who make someone feel valued, connected and heard can be important when they are struggling.
“Having emotional support, having someone there for you….being a part of a pack, feeling like you matter, feeling like you belong to something is incredibly important to your life and your life satisfaction,” Solomon said.
That support, she said, should not begin only when someone displays obvious signs that something is wrong.
Some people may struggle to express what they are going through, while others may believe that no one cares or that they will be judged if they speak about their problems.
“We as a community need to just be more kind to one another and check in on family and friends more often, even if there are zero signs, because you just never know,” she said.
Solomon said how people respond when someone does open up is just as important.
She cautioned against responding with judgment, shame or comments that minimise what the person is experiencing. Instead, she encouraged people to listen, remain present and ask what kind of support is needed.
“Sometimes the best thing is to say nothing at all and just be there and be a shoulder,” Solomon said.
The reluctance to speak about mental-health challenges has previously been identified as a concern among young people in Guyana.
A 2019 study by psychologists Prerna G. Arora and Sarika Persaud, involving 40 secondary-school students and 17 adult stakeholders, identified stigma, fear of negative parental reactions, limited awareness of mental-health services and negative beliefs about those services among barriers to seeking help.
The researchers called for culturally informed suicide-prevention strategies and greater involvement from schools, government and community organisations.
Those findings provide context for Solomon’s call for families and communities to create environments where people feel they can talk about what they are experiencing without fear of being dismissed or judged.
Solomon stressed, however, that support from family and friends is not a replacement for professional mental-health care.
People experiencing suicidal thoughts or severe emotional distress should seek professional assistance through available mental-health and healthcare services.
