-Gov’t boosting counselling, therapy services

DR. KAREN Cummings, the Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, has said the

administration is taking concrete steps to address the issue of mental health; and that in addition to the recently launched Mental Health Unit, which treats patients on an out-patient basis, plans are in train to establish a Mental Health Institute which offers counselling and occupational therapy.

She also addressed the issue of inadequate and unqualified staffing as it relates to mental health treatment in Guyana. Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Dr. Cummings said the Mental Health Institute would be able to provide training and clinical experience to those officers in this field, so that the delivery of mental health in Guyana would be holistically improved.

The minister revealed that the institute would be situated on Quamina Street, South Cummingsburg, where the Mental Health Unit is currently housed; while patients would be catered for on an out-patient basis via the mental Health Unit.

She also revealed that she is looking to have the Psychiatric Ward at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) upgraded to accommodate patients with acute or severe illnesses.

The GPHC Psychiatric Ward currently has a limited number of beds, and Dr. Cummings revealed that she is seeking to increase the number of beds there. She said that while the GPHC would not be able to host patients for an extended period of time, there needs to be a facility that caters for patients suffering from chronic mental illnesses that would require extended institutional care.

The alternative to upgrading the GPHC Psychiatric Ward is to use the National Psychiatric Hospital at Fort Canje in East Berbice, but she said that serious renovation must be done to that facility to make it more “health-friendly” for its occupants.

Dr. Cummings however noted that “the idea is not to keep them there all the time”, but to eventually rehabilitate them into society.

STAFFING
Minister Cummings also declared, “We are working assiduously to get the right persons for the job.” She noted that several mental health practitioners, including doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers (needed to deliver primary care) are being earmarked.

The minister also said training is ongoing for persons in this field, as the Public Health Ministry is “strengthening what we have.” She highlighted that a Deputy Director of the Mental Health Unit will shortly be installed to complement the recently installed Director of the Mental Health Unit, Dr. Meenawattie Rajkumar.

“We are trying to attract the best persons for the job,” the minister noted, and further said, “We want to offer a comprehensive package.”

World Mental Health Day was celebrated yesterday, October 10th, under the theme “Dignity in Mental Health: Psychological and Mental Health First Aid for all.”