ON October 10 last, World Mental Health Day was commemorated worldwide.  The World Health Organisation (WHO)’s definition of mental health is: “A state of wel-being in which the individual realises his or her abilities can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”
Approximately one in every four persons have suffered, or is suffering, mental disorders. Mental disorders include mild or major depression, bipolar disorder, panic, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Among the most serious mental disorders is schizophrenia, with which most Guyanese have been acquainted; from the mid-19th century, when the Mental Hospital in Berbice was established, schizophrenia patients were treated or kept there. Today, Dementia and its most ubiquitous form Alzheimer’s Disease, has become even more widespread and feared.

The focus and theme of this year’s Mental Health Day is “Young people and mental health in a changing world,” but it does not preclude continuous attention to mental health problems of all members of society.

In Guyana, one of the main foci on youth was done by the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Guyana, which held a “mental health fair,” where the Minister of Public Health and other speakers such as Dr Krow of PAHO made their contributions.The minister pointed out that less than 10% of mental health sufferers are being treated and of these, four out of 10 have contemplated or attempted suicide.She expressed her concern over adolescent pregnancy and suicide and promised that teachers would be trained in recognising, identifying and dealing with students with mental health problems.  The Ministry of Public Health’s awareness and concern with the problems of mental health among the youth is very commendable.

There is however another area of young people’s lives which generates stress, tension and depression which cries out to be addressed.  The entire system of examinations to which children and young persons are subjected needs to be reviewed and reformed.  Such would include the examinations to stream children into the secondary schools and the Caribbean Council’s examinations.  This system engenders the private lessons syndrome, which is placing terrible stress on young children.  It also leads to children being made to do 20 or more subjects at the CXC examinations.This not only places great mental burdens on children, but also makes many of their compeers feel inadequate. In reforming the system, all stakeholders have to be involved- the Ministry of Education, the parents, the teachers and even the children.

In any consideration of Mental Health, Dementia in all its forms, and in particular its Alzheimer Disease form, has to be given special notice.  Alzheimer is growing worldwide and in Guyana, its increase has been widespread among all groups, irrespective of ethnicity, class or economic position.  It is a disease where the sufferer progressively loses his/her memory, mind and personality.  His/her family could do nothing to help the sufferer and have much difficulty in taking care of the patient;  With a close relative who suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease, families live in great tension and pain.

Formal medicine, so far, has not produced any effective treatment of the disease, though there are many theories as to its cause and many suggested treatments.  On the other hand, Alternative Medicine, using techniques and treatments used in the ancient world, in particular Ayurvedic medicine, have been coming up with answers which have been successful in individual cases.  One of the most widespread Alternative Medicine treatments is the use of one teaspoon of turmeric powder, either sprinkled on food or taken as a drink and one tablespoon of coconut oil every day.  Formal medicine is now seriously exploring this treatment and is beginning to adopt it.

World Mental Health Day 2018 has had a positive effect on having governments and other stakeholders focus on improving the mental health of society.