Dear Sir

I AM very appreciative of the editorial you did on the mental health situation in Guyana as reported in the Chronicle of June 28th 2016.I fully agree with the statements you have made about the need to reduce the stigma which mental illness appears to have in Guyana. This stigma creates problems for patients in seeking treatment for mental health problems and for the possibility that their illness would be devalued, misdiagnosed and mistreated by physicians.

While the numbers of psychiatrists for the population size of Guyana is small, it is the responsibilty of all physicians, especially general practiotioners, to be able to diagnose and provide minimal care for most mental health problems. In their academic preparation, all phsicians receive training in Psychiatric Medicine.

In this regard, I presented at the Continuing Medical Education (CME) symposium for the doctors and other medical personnel at the Conference Centre in May of this year.
I am providing you with this presentation and you are welcome to share it with the public, especially the slides that are relevant to Guyana. These include recommendations for reducing stigma. If you choose to publish any materials from my presentation, I think it may be good to check with Dr. Shobha Gobin, President of the Medical Council of Guyana, that she is supportive for publishing materials from the recent CME of the Medical Council.
Many thanks for your sustained interest in the unhealthy and unhappy plight of persons suffering with mental disorders in Guyana.
Regards
Regards
Yours truly

D. Sharma
Dr. Davendranand Sharma, M.B.B.S; DM
Department of Behavioural Sciences