Overview:
Rodny Boussicot, a 25-year-old seminarian within the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, died by suicide on Aug. 9 in Pétion-Ville after battling sickness and despair. His loss of life highlights Haiti’s deepening psychological well being disaster, fueled by gang violence, mass displacement, and collapsing well being companies. The case has reignited nationwide debate on suicide, occurring alongside latest kidnappings which have additional shaken the Catholic Church and the communities it serves.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — The Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince is mourning the loss of life of Rodny Boussicot, a 25-year-old seminarian who died by suicide Aug. 9 after leaping from a window at Saint-Pierre Church in Pétion-Ville.
Boussicot, initially from Fond Baptiste in Arcahaie, had lately accomplished his philosophical research and was getting ready for a post-philosophical internship. In accordance with the archdiocese, he had been battling a excessive fever and despair within the days main as much as his loss of life, as his physique was discovered on the bottom early morning.
“The testimony of the parish clergy and the proof of sure information counsel a suicide,” the archdiocese stated in an Aug. 11 statement.
“The seminarian apparently threw himself out of a window. Defenestration and the lifeless physique mendacity on the bottom are clear indications.”
The tragedy comes as Haiti endures an escalating humanitarian and safety disaster. Since gangs seized management of the Martissant highway connecting Port-au-Prince to the south in June 2022, violence has surged. The United Nations stories that throughout the previous yr, greater than 8,000 individuals have been killed.
Gang management has pressured the closure of greater than 30 hospitals and tons of of colleges. An estimated 1.3 million individuals have been displaced as of June, many dwelling in makeshift camps, and over 5 million face extreme meals insecurity.
New case sparks renewed debate over the rising psychological well being disaster
The nation’s psychological well being system is almost collapsed. The Mars and Kline Psychiatry Middle — the final remaining psychological well being hospital after Beudet’s closure — ceased operations final yr. Specialists warn that insecurity, displacement, and poverty are worsening despair, nervousness and suicidal tendencies, significantly amongst youth.
Boussicot’s loss of life follows different high-profile suicides that shook Haiti in 2023, together with regulation pupil Danaïka Duplan and 30-year-old Karl-Ludson Azor, who set himself on fireplace in entrance of the Monument of the Heroes of Independence in Cap-Haïtien.
Whereas suicide in Haiti will not be a brand new difficulty, gathering real-time information stays difficult as a result of Haitian households typically keep away from discussing it for varied causes. Obtainable information exhibits that in 2015, the nation had a charge of 11.4 suicides per 100,000 individuals, increased than the worldwide common of 9.47 at the moment. By 2019, this rate had slightly dropped to 11.2, in accordance with the Pan American Well being Group (PAHO).
The regional well being group reported that Haiti ranks fifth among the many 20% of nations within the Americas with a excessive suicide mortality charge, behind america—with a charge of 14.5—and forward of Canada, with a charge of 10.3. Nonetheless, Haiti’s reported suicide charge continues to be comparatively low in comparison with different Caribbean international locations like Guyana (40.8) and Suriname (25.9), that are essentially the most suicidal nations within the area, rating first and second, respectively.
The controversy over suicide, sparked once more by Boussicot’s loss of life, happens because the nation faces a posh disaster.
“The testimony of the parish clergy and the proof of sure information counsel a suicide. Defenestration and the lifeless physique mendacity on the bottom are clear indications.”
Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince
The Haitian Psychological Affiliation’s disaster unit recorded practically 11,000 misery calls from individuals expressing suicidal ideas in 2023. The Worldwide Group for Migration (IOM) has additionally reported rising suicidal tendencies amongst displaced Haitians, linking them to lack of houses, livelihoods and the fixed menace of violence.
In a 2023 study, psychologist Philogène Bernadin identified that despair, nervousness, consuming problems and substance use—together with household and socio-economic components like unemployment and poverty—contribute to heightening suicidal ideas within the nation. Every day stress weakens younger Haitians’ resilience, elevating their threat of suicide, Bernadin summarized.
One other psychologist, Jeff Matherson Cadichon, added that environmental and safety circumstances are main threat components for psychological well being in Haiti.
Haiti’s Catholic Church is spotlighted amid the rising disaster
Along with the younger seminarian’s loss of life, this month has thus far introduced different grim headlines for Haiti’s Catholic group. On Aug. 3, a gang from the “Viv Ansanm” coalition kidnapped eight individuals, together with an Irish missionary and a 3-year-old baby, from the Saint Helene orphanage in Kenscoff. The spiritual group—Our Little Brothers and Sisters (NPH, its Spanish acronym)—operating the orphanage, has since closed its hospitals, Saint Damien and Saint Luc, citing safety issues and demanding the discharge of the kidnapped people.
Since NHP launched a statement on the day of the kidnappings, no updates have been given. Except for asserting the closure of all Haiti’s establishments, companies and care applications in protest, the Latin American-based nonprofit group has refused to share any further particulars in regards to the incident or the victims’ scenario.
Catholic church leaders condemned the kidnapping as a “new act of barbarity” and an indication of Haiti’s “deepening ethical collapse.” It urged prayer, help and authorities motion to revive order.
On Aug. 10, Pope Leo XIV addressed the violence in the course of the Angelus prayer at Saint Peter’s Basilica, calling for the hostages’ launch and worldwide assist to assist Haiti dismantle gangs.
“The scenario of the Haitian inhabitants is more and more determined,” Pope Leo stated.
“I make a heartfelt attraction to these in positions of accountability to make sure the instant launch of the hostages, and I name for concrete assist from the worldwide group to create the social and institutional circumstances that may enable Haitians to dwell in peace.”