By Dillon Goring
IN view of the novel coronavirus pandemic, there have been and continue to be challenges regarding the issue of mental health worldwide.
It can be argued that the effects of the pandemic have led to many persons falling victim to poor mental health practices, stemming from a multiplicity of reasons, including the loss of a job and the inability to maintain and sustain one’s family, or other resulting difficulties.

According to a study conducted by the Centre for Diseases Control in the United States, it was reported in January of 2018, that one in five Americans will experience mental illness in a given year.

The study further indicated that one in five children, either currently or at some point during their lives, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness.
Pepperpot Magazine spoke with Shane Tull, a Guyanese clinical psychotherapist, who resides in the United States of America, who revealed that to deal with Guyana’s poor mental health practices, there need to be treatment facilities set up that address mental health.

He also noted that training of various mental health personnel in dealing with poor mental health practices is crucially important with mental health cases.
Tull was careful to mention that persons who are affected by mental health illnesses must be equipped with the skills to manage their lives after therapy.
“Support groups for people dealing with mental health issues, particularly men [are needed]. This also includes a safe space for men to speak freely,“ Tull told Pepperpot Magazine.
In the national plan for mental health that was set out by the previous administration of the Guyana Government for the period 2015-2020, it was revealed that there is no health without mental health.

The relationship between physical and mental health is multifaceted. Mental disorders increase the risk of communicable and non-communicable diseases and contribute to unintentional and intentional injuries. Mental health, like other aspects of health, can be affected by a range of socioeconomic and psychological factors that need to be addressed through comprehensive strategies for promotion, prevention, treatment and recovery.

In May 2012, the 65th World Health Assembly adopted resolution WHA65.4 on the global burden of mental disorders and the need for a comprehensive, coordinated response from health and social sectors at the country level. In the light of this call to action, mental health was given prominence in the service priorities of the National Health Sector Strategy 2013-2020, which has as its vision “that the people of Guyana are among the healthiest in the Caribbean and the Americas.”

This plan, which was developed jointly by the Mental Health Team of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) Guyana, presents the justification and advantages of providing a national mental health strategy in Guyana. At the same time, it outlines strategic action on how to implement and scale up interventions and primary-care services for mental health.

The National Mental Health Strategy 2015-2020 was informed by wide stakeholder consultation, which included representatives from civil society, government ministries, NGOs, health administrators, general health professionals, and community and institution-based mental health care providers.

Complex socio-cultural factors and the presence of a mental disorder are likely very significant attributable risk factors and have contributed to a high prevalence of deaths and injuries due to violence and accidents; as well as a cycle of mental health issues including self-harm, depression and anxiety disorders. Risk factors for mental illness in Guyana are related to environmental, lifestyle practices, biological and psychosocial factors which include, social class, gender,  racial conflicts, housing, occupational risks, access to services, smoking, limited national policies, globalisation, macroeconomics, national politics and urbanisation.

The factors that characterise the Guyana mental health systems and, services, the scope of legislations and inadequate human resources which make services inaccessible to the population, are also issues that are discussed.