Mental health negatives being countered by Government

DEAREDITOR, Mental Health is getting deserved attention in Guyana and I know this is takingalotofeffortfromthe MinistryofHealth.

In fact, a mere cursory readingwillshowthatthere are greatest challenges in dealing with mental health issues, namely, Associated Stigma, Access to Resources, Lack of Knowledge, Inertia, Unhelpful Coping Mechanisms, Stereo-typing, andevenLackofEmpathy

Thebottom-lineforme, and I guess the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government is that mental illnesses and patients must behandledwithdignity

Editor, I note that the Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, echoed that which is very vital, stating that “Our job is not to keep people institutionalised” He detailed that “… patients s h o u l d n o t b e institutionalised for a long periodoftime,butrather,be treatedanddischarged.”And whynot?

In this day, it is well established that with early and consistent treatment, people with serious mental illnesses can manage their conditions, overcome challenges, and lead meaningful, productive lives. Mental illnesses are disorders that affect a person’s thinking, mood, and/or behaviour, and they can range from mild to severe.

This clearly shows that those, or most, with mental issues, can still live, and shouldbeallowedaplaceof normalcy in the society, whether at work, school or home.

For those of us following this particular stand from the Ministry of Health, we know that the Minister of Health, on the occasion of a Guyana Police Force symposium, was speaking on mental health as a public safety issue, held under the theme, “Improving Police Performance Through Stakeholder’s Approach ” He reminded the audience that mental health legislation has been upgraded to adopt modern mentalhealthpractices.

Accordingtohim,“How we practice psychiatry now is much different from the waywedidyearsago.

Today, our job is not to k e e p p e o p l e institutionalised; the idea is totreatandreturnpatientsto theirhomes.”

The reason, as I mentioned before is that “ modern psychology sees acute episodes in patients, which when treated,causedstabilisation, resultinginatimelyreturnof patientstotheirfamilies(and placesofstudyandwork).

Readers,Idoappreciate that our leaders are ‘keeping up’ with best practices in this key area of Medicare

The trend now in Guyana is that “We are no longer keeping patients for an extensive time in our institution

The practice of psychiatry is changing, and these are the international normsweareembracingand adoptinginGuyana.”

For those who may be skeptics, the reality is that it is quite possible to recover from mental health problems, and many people do after accessing support

For sure, symptoms may return from time to time, but when discovered, there are techniques and treatments fully tested and available.

Let me join the Minister Anthony in imploring the public that training programmes are available through the World Health Organisation (WHO) to better improve mental healthpractices.

AndwheretheMinistry of Health is concerned, there are some 16 psychiatrists, and a postgraduate programme, providing training to psychiatrists as they respond to the needs of patients

Of course, the whole thing is an everprogressing outlook, and I am very optimistic that panic, stereo-typing and stigmatising mental health issues, and those affected by them will recede in the nearfuture.

Yourstruly, HBSingh