– has five psychiatrists

THE level of mental health care offered by the Ministry of Public Health will be improved with the Mental Health Unit refurbished and staffed with five psychiatrists, the Government Information Agency (GINA) has reported.In addition, there is an emphasis on decentralising mental health care to other regions. This as the country looks to combat a high rate of suicide.

“The Ministry of Public Health has already commenced a process to conduct an HR review that will lead to an HR strategic Plan, after which the MoPH and its partners will identify, train, and allocate additional resources to boost the mental health services, particularly at the community level,” Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr Karen Cummings, is quoted by GINA as saying.

The Agency noted that Minister Cummings recognises there are several risk factors that contribute to the high suicide rates in Guyana. The most common risk factors identified are acute emotional distress and depression.

“This factor accounts for 36.6 % of all cases. The care of the mentally ill is provided under the legislative framework of the Mental Health Ordinance of 1930, which is antiquated and fails to make provision for the protection of the rights of people with mental disorders,” the Minister stated.

Director of the Mental Health Unit, Dr. Meenawattie Rajkumar, is quoted by GINA as stating that prior to May 2016, the unit had not been properly structured to cater to mentally ill patients. Dr. Rajkumar added that the unit can now offer counselling and occupational therapy to these patients in a refurbished environment. She said the unit is equipped with five psychiatrists, eight Social Workers, and a pharmacy for the patients to have easier access to treatment.

Dr. Rajkumar remarked that the aim of the Metal Health Unit is to break the stigma that is attached to mental illness in Guyana.

Located at 252 Quamina Street, South Cummingsburg, the unit caters for patients with mental disorders on an out-patient basis. The unit’s Director said the Public Health Ministry intends to upgrade the GPHC’s psychiatric department as a specialised in-patient unit, housing patients according to their level of diagnosis.

The organisation of mental health services, beds and professionals in Guyana is currently centralised, responding to persons with mental disorders and concentrating them at the National Psychiatric Hospital at Canje, Berbice, and the Georgetown Public Hospital Psychiatric ward.