DRESSED in orange jerseys, scores of New Amsterdam nurses, students and members of the COFONA corps of drums, joyfully marched through the streets of the township before converging at the country’s lone psychiatric hospital at Fort Canje, where a rally under the theme,’ Mental Health in the Workplace’ was held to commemorate a week of activities held in honour of Mental Health Day which was celebrated on October 10.
At the annual event, organised by the National Psychiatric Hospital, saw for the first time in recent years participation by senior functionaries of the Ministry of Public Health, including the Director of Mental Health, Dr. Util, Richmond Thomas and Senior Psychologist, Balogam .O. Osunbiyi.
Delivering the feature address on behalf of the Minister of Public Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence, Dr. Thomas, noted that smart employers would encourage positive mental well-being, as it was known that mental illness was common and could affect one in every five persons.

It was noted that a vast percentage of persons suffer from depression and anxiety disorders which, she said,  has cost the World Health Organisation (WHO) $2.3 Trillion, and that, that sum was expected to triple before 2030.
Depression, she pointed out, is the single leading mental health issue, which results in low productivity in the work place.
‘Persons with depression suffer from low energy, indecisiveness, hopelessness, no pleasure at anything while their creativity is at rock bottom. Persons conceal illness because attitudes will change in a negative way.They risk being stereotyped. Accordingly, the workplace must be a nurturing environment …employers need to support persons with depression, isolations, and anxiety.

Meanwhile adding his voice to the mental health issue, Mr Osunbiyi, told those gathered that while individually we are good enough, being good was not enough.
‘However, collectively we are excellent and it is the excellence which will make Guyana a better place, and which too has seen the country move from being  number one to number three, on the list of the highest rate of mental health casualties.
“We must make our contribution so as to allow citizens to live a better life. We, collectively, can address the concerns of mental health, so by next year we would have moved from number three to number 30.

Meanwhile, amidst poetic expressions, songs and dances, Medical Superintendent of the National Psychiatric Hospital, Dr V. Khirodhar, highlighted the warning signs of mental health issues which included, eating or sleeping too much or too little, pulling away from society, no desire to do anything, feelings of numbness [nothing matters], severe mood swings, drinking, smoking, excessive drug usage amongst several  others.
Further, during her years of practice at the mental health facility, she has concluded that mental health is under threat, and has since issued a call to all personnel to stop criticising, while noting that persons react differently to stressful situations.
The Director of Health Services, Mr Jevaughn Stephens, challenged his audience to evaluate themselves and be open to accept the care offered, while CEO of the New Amsterdam Hospital, Mr Colin Bynoe applauded the local mental health fighters, while also recognising the abilities of those institutionised