Treating with mental health

WE are cautious about what we eat, physical exercise, and having a healthy body; we are also observant of excessive fat intake.

I once tried the vegetarian path. I thought it was a way of being pure. I have friends who make the gym their number one priority, so that they have a toned and fit body, but what’s the point if our minds do not match the health meter with that of our bodies? Why do we feel the need to go to the physician for a ‘check-up,’ but not to a local counsellor/psychiatrist?

I believe it is of utmost importance, I repeat, utmost importance, that we take care of our mental health by seeking professional help. Not only in Guyana, but many other nations, amongst society, mental health is brushed off like dust on the shoulders. The World Health Organisation defined mental health as, ‘a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.’ The deterioration of one’s mental health can be caused by mental illnesses or disorders. WHO also tells us that, ‘mental illnesses are generally characterised by some combination of abnormal thoughts, emotions, behaviour and relationships with others.’ (Examples include: depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and anorexia)

In Guyana, there is stigma attached to our mental institutions as well as the patients. As a Berbician I can tell you that there is an excruciating stigmatisation of the Psychiatric Hospital. Persons blatantly refuse treatment of their mental illness for reasons of being called names, laughed at and mocked. Am I the only one who is guilty of referring to someone who has abnormal thoughts and/or behaviours as ‘mad’ or ‘psycho’? I think not. The same way most of us find the word ‘handicap’ offensive to describe the differently-abled, we should consider that and completely discard those words from our vocabularies when it comes to describing the mentally ill.

I suffer from anxiety. Perhaps you knew, given the hints in my previous writings. I will continue to write on mental health, because I feel we should place more emphasis on it. An approximate number of 650 million persons across the world suffer from mental illnesses. In our very own country, Guyana, every one in four persons come face-to-face with a mental illness. Why sit back and allow those numbers to increase? Mental health should be in all of society’s interests. While professionals are trained to treat the mental illness and notice red flags, we should also read and educate ourselves, just in case a friend of ours is feeling under the weather, or you noticed a drastic change in someone’s behaviour, you can help them. Whether if you’re a teacher to someone, a parent, a neighbour or even a stranger, we can all help. Mental illness is not contagious, you cannot catch it by being kind or showing compassion. The way in which we move forward depends on our minds/ thoughts about this issue. Your mental health, my mental health and Guyana’s mental health is not insignificant. We are not just numbers added to a statistic, we are human beings.

According to WHO, ‘Region Six (also services Region Five); Region Four (also services Region Five); Region Three (also services Region Two); and Region 10. The National Psychiatric Hospital (Region Six) is the only mental hospital in Guyana and provides in-patient acute, subacute and chronic mental health care services at a national level.’ There are a total of two patient outputs available to all citizens of Guyana; the National Psychiatric Hospital and the Georgetown Public Hospital’s (GPHC) Psychiatric Department. I’ll leave you all with this quote to ponder, ‘Good mental health is not a destination, it’s a process. It’s how you drive, not where you’re going.’ Begin your drive by seeking professional help. If by chance you want to contact the National Psychiatric Hospital, the number is +592-333-2141/2142 or GPHC on +592-227-8241.

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