While COVID-19 has taken a toll on businesses, the economy and affected families and these issues have been well ventilated, little attention seems to be placed on the effects of the pandemic on the mental health of Guyanese.
This is not to say that work is not being done but from the look of things, much attention is required with regards to mental health during this period.
In a column on COVID-19 published in November 2020 in the Guyana Chronicle, Dr. Davendranand Sharma pointed out that the COVID-19 crisis can affect an individual’s brain, causing mental health disorders in a number of ways: directly by the viral impact on the affected persons’ immune system and also by changes in brain function by direct entry into the brain, causing a wide variety of neurological problems, including delirium and vascular disorders.
This aside, due to the pandemic, many have lost their jobs, loved ones and suffered various disruptions. There is no certainty how these persons, their families and victims of the virus are coping in these testing circumstances. Front line workers, too especially nurses and doctors are faced various challenges, including distressing situations, in the fight against the pandemic.

People tend to cope differently when faced with challenges and naturally, in situations like these, many would need help. Director of the Mental Health Unit, Dr. Util Thomas had estimated that around 15 to 20 per cent of the population is affected by mental health issues. COVID-19 has exacerbated this situation.
To the Ministry of Health’s credit, in December last year, the Mental Health Unit launched a toll-free 655-SAFE (655-7233) hotline for persons experiencing the pains inflicted by the pandemic to seek help but not much has been said about this facility since its launch. From all indications, the critical service it provides requires much promotion. This is necessary because mental health is generally dealt with more from a reactionary standpoint. The importance attached to this condition is often seen and felt only by those who are personally affected. Those with mental-health concerns or issues are usually seen as a “crazy” group that needs to be locked away, ignored or forgotten, and not as functioning or valued members of society. Much promotion of the toll-free hotline as well as a public campaign to debunk common myths about mental health are required because a general premise is that persons with mental-health issues do not initially seek treatment.
They do not mainly because, when they start talking about their symptoms/feelings, they are seen as weak; trying to get attention or demon-possessed; or depending on the culture, the family had some affliction, or had committed some evil act that was now coming back to haunt them.

The stigma attached to mental illness results in loved ones of persons with mental-health issues overcompensating and attempting to conceal symptoms, because it is more acceptable to pretend those issues do not exist. This is generally done in an effort to blend into society, or be seen as “normal”. The result of these variables is that often when these symptoms are finally confronted, the person’s condition is too advanced to obtain treatment that would enable them to regain their status as a functioning member of society. It is for these reasons that significant attention has to be placed on raising awareness on mental and encouraging persons affected and experiencing symptoms to seek help. Outside of the clinical setting, some solutions to addressing mental stability can be achieved with familial support, as in educating members on the importance of self-worth, life, and to understand that, even beyond their current struggle, life is worth living. Another important factor is support for various age groups as this would allow for avenues to voice thoughts, feelings, struggles, and gain support from each other on how to deal with the pandemic and other issues as a result of it. Mental health is a societal issue. Its management requires education, acceptance, willingness to support, and receptiveness to including the individuals afflicted with these symptoms, to ensure that they are not ostracised. In the absence of the above-stated, it widens the base and increases inability to identify and effectively treat individuals with mental health symptoms.