By Vanessa Cort
WE all have a role to play in both recognising and helping those who may be experiencing a mental health crisis, according to Psychotherapist, Shane Tull.

And in his book, ‘The Mental Health Pandemic’, he provides guidelines for this while taking us through the realm of a condition which he has referred to as a “pandemic within a pandemic”.
Indeed, while he admitted to having thoughts of writing a book on the subject for some time, the author felt that it was appropriate to do so now, given the escalating nature of mental health crises during this pandemic.

In a recent interview, he said, “I had it in mind before…but the (COVID-19) pandemic pushed me to do it,” adding that he was further motivated by his desire to help people deal with “a pandemic that came on so fast it seemed to leave people frozen”.

“I was just looking at the emotional paralysis that it imposed on everyone,” he noted, also voicing his concern at the fact that many people felt they were losing control of their lives.

As a consultant and clinician, Tull found himself responding to constant requests for interviews and presentations on mental health and so this book answers two fundamental questions, ‘What is mental health?’ and ‘How do I know if I am going through a mental health crisis?’

He also explored how psychotherapy can help as part of a wider support mechanism and offer a chance for “real character development”.

The consultant is a strong advocate for support systems for people in crisis, saying, “If you have a support network it can help you…or even prevent you from going through a crisis.”

He stressed the importance of family and friends rallying around and providing assurance just by saying, “I am there for you” and being prepared to listen and talk to a troubled person.

Tull, who is also a licensed social worker has been in this field for 25 years and has worked as a consultant for several organisations in this country. He looks at mental health from the perspective that “it takes a village to help” and recommends communication as a primary tool for improving awareness of such issues.

The author, who lives abroad but visits regularly, observes that too often the stigma attached to mental health causes families to hide away those affected rather than talking about the problem and seeking solutions.

“So it’s not just the person’s shame but the family’s shame,” he remarks, advising that we pay attention to those undergoing a mental health crisis rather than ignoring them.

“If no one sees me then I am nobody…I’m not being validated…no one cares for me,” is how he describes the mindset of someone in crisis.

In his book Tull also deals with men and mental health, an area which is often ignored but which is nonetheless becoming one of great concern. For, particularly in this pandemic, men who are the sole breadwinners in many families are faced with reduced working hours or job loss, while still having to provide for their families.

This book is therefore timely and necessary, with World Mental Health Day 2021 being celebrated next Sunday, October 10.

A launching ceremony is also scheduled to be held in Guyana on Friday, October 15 at 15:00 hours at Albert Street and Woolford Avenue. Persons attending are advised that health protocols will be observed.