A MENTAL Health Secretariat, projected to cost some $16.3M, is to be established on Quamina Street, Georgetown, Public Health Minister Dr. George Norton disclosed late Monday night during consideration of the 2016 Budget Estimates. The announcement of this multi-million-dollar project was roundly applauded by former Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, who served under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration.
The A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government is aggressively tackling the issue of suicide in Guyana, which is also a mental health issue. The government is focusing on early intervention.

WORLD’S HIGHEST
Guyana has the highest estimated suicide rate in the world, and according to data from the Americas, suicide rates first peak among young people, remain at the same level for other age groups, and rise again among older men.
Data gathered over the last five years indicate that most of the cases are concentrated in coastal areas of the country, particularly in the East Berbice-Corentyne Region Six area, which has the highest rating at 30.9%; Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), which comes a distant second at 22%; followed by Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Five (Mahaica-Berbice) at 19.7%, 13.4% and 8.8% respectively.
Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) have together accounted for just over 4% of the cases, but recent evidence suggests that the figure may be higher.
However, mental illness is not limited to depression or suicidal thoughts, according to Head of the Psychiatric Unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr. Bhiro Harry, who told the Guyana Chronicle that common forms of mental illness include anxiety, depression, substance use disorders and psychosis, better known in Guyanese parlance as “The Mad-man Syndrome”. Of the lot, psychosis makes up about two per cent of all mental illnesses globally.

NO ONE IMMUNE
Revealing that no one is immune from mental illness, Dr. Harry said every day, cases of mental illness are diagnosed globally, with 98 per cent of the diagnosed cases being common in people who appear sane.
This condition can be caused by a combination of environmental, psychological and genetic factors, he said, adding that sometimes, it is the psychiatric manifestation of a physical medical illness such as a thyroid disease or a low calcium level.
Additionally, the use of licit (such as alcohol) and illicit (such as marijuana and cocaine) substances can cause mental illness.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, some of the early signs of mental illness include withdrawal, drop in functioning, problems with thinking and concentration, increased sensitivity, apathy, nervousness, sleep or appetite changes, and mood changes.