Social support systems ‘paramount to the treatment process’

By Gibron Rahim
“THERE is no health without mental health; mental health is too important to be left to the professionals alone, and mental health is everyone’s business.”
The above words of Indian psychiatrist and researcher Vikram Patel underscore the importance of mental health to the overall well-being of an individual. Given that Guyana has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, mental health is truly everyone’s business in our country. Improving mental health in Guyana and saving lives will require a collaborative effort with social support systems playing a significant role.

According to Ren Gonzales, current president of the Guyana Psychological Association, mental health is a part of the general health of an individual. Gonzales holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degrees in management and psychology. He is presently the resident psychologist at the Eureka Medical Laboratory Psychodiagnostic and Family Therapy Centre where he carries out psychological testing and provides psychotherapy, family therapy, drug addiction brief intervention and brief therapies. Concurrently, Gonzales is also the company’s human resources manager and also works as a management consultant.

Gonzales outlined the aims of the Guyana Psychological Association, as mandated by its Constitution. The Association strives to disseminate the purposes and services of psychology in the interest of general human welfare and development. Related to that aim is the promotion and protection of the general and professional welfare of psychologists. The body works toward promoting the enactment of legislation related to the professional practice of psychology and speaking on behalf of psychologists with regard to legislative action.

Other aims set out in the Association’s Constitution include maintaining and improving standards of ethical conduct and proficiency in the practice of psychology, supporting education and research in the field of psychology through publications, seminars, workshops and other related activities, representing and speaking on behalf of psychologists and representing psychologists in and outside of Guyana. Maintaining a register of qualified psychologists and allied professionals and creating processes and related standards by which persons offering psychological services to the Guyanese public can be licensed and certified to do so are other goals.

Misconceptions surrounding mental illness in Guyana continue to be a barrier to diagnosis and treatment. Gonzales noted, “Just as one needs a general medical check-up, one’s mental health maintenance is as important.” He remarked that seeing a psychologist in Guyana seems to have been stigmatised in the sense that persons are already presumed to be “mad” if they see a psychologist. “In Guyana, a strange behaviour can be considered as being “mad” although that is not necessarily true,” he said.

Gonzales pointed out that there are certain behaviours that can be classified as an effect of organic brain damage which may not necessarily mean that someone is mad. “It means that there are malfunctions neurologically [and] that is why they behave a bit strange,” he explained. He noted also that some psychological aberrations that are drug-induced and which are consequently different from those that are developed because of a combination of a lot of factors, inclusive of genetic and environmental factors.

The psychologist noted that mental illness can be categorised in so many ways. All mental and psychological disorders, he said, are defined in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) published by the American Psychiatric Association. The publication is the product of over 10 years of effort by hundreds of international experts in all aspects of mental health. “Their dedication and hard work have yielded an authoritative volume that defines and classifies mental disorders in order to improve diagnoses, treatment, and research.”

It would be a mistake to say that there aren’t steps being taken to counter misconceptions surrounding mental illness and provide adequate mental health care in Guyana. According to Gonzales, there are advocacy and preventative groups who champion mental health. The Ministry of Public Health also has its Mental Health Unit that focuses on issues concerning mental wellness. Gonzales noted too that he and other mental health personnel advocate for mental health in their private practices. He added, “The members of our association usually are invited as resource persons in promoting mental health in schools, in the communities and in the workplace.”

Another step that is needed to counter misconceptions surrounding mental health in Guyana, according to Gonzales, is the entrenchment of the discipline of psychology in Guyanese society. He remarked that the recent move by the University of Guyana to offer programmes in psychology is a good start. He added, “I am aware that other international universities will be offering similar courses as well.”

The importance of those suffering from mental illness having a strong social support system cannot be overemphasised. “It is paramount to the treatment process,” said Gonzales. “We normally invite social support systems of an individual so that they are taught some techniques to help change certain behaviours.” The family, especially those living with the individual, are the most important according to Gonzales.

Friends and the educational support system, including teachers, also play a significant role. “There are instances where the support systems need to undergo training and counselling more than the individual because they will play a significant role in changing behaviour, especially in cases of children,” said Gonzales.

Compassion is necessary for those dealing with mental illness, even as we continue to learn more. Gonzales noted that the science of psychology has always strived to understand human behaviour in all its complexities. “Yet, even so, it is not an exact science,” he pointed out. Referring to the labels of “mad” and “madness”, he added that psychology avoids and does not condone labelling of people in such a manner. “These labels have tremendous negative implications on the life of an individual being wrongly labelled as such,” he said.

As mental health care in Guyana moves forward, steps must continue to be taken to ensure that individuals receive the best possible level of care. “I think there is a need for more psychologists who are essentially qualified, meaning they have both the experience and education to practice ethically. And yes, we need a multi and interdisciplinary approach in promoting mental health,” stated Gonzales.