Dear Editor,
MENTAL health problems are a lot more common than you would think. Amongst them, anxiety and depression are most common. Both of these conditions can be detrimental to a person’s everyday life and affect their well-being. People often try and disguise their feelings and problems as they are afraid of other people’s reactions. This can often make the condition worse. Mental illness is like any other medical illness and should be treated accordingly because it has a biological basis just like other medical illnesses and should be treated in the public’s eye in a similar manner.

Mental health problems are extremely individual and can have many different causes and effects on a person and can be either mild or severe. There are many different reasons for someone developing a mental illness. It could be genetic, through lifestyle choices or through past experiences. It could be a combination of these factors or through all of the above. In a lot of cases, mental health problems occur over a period of time and happen after a series of events in someone’s life leading to a breakdown or development of mental illness.

Taking care of your mental health is always important,, but even more so during these unprecedented times. Anytime we feel a loss of control, it is completely normal to have feelings of fear and anxiety. Other common feelings may include sadness, anger, confusion, hypersensitivity, and grief.

During these times of social distancing and uncertainty, individuals with pre-existing anxiety, depression and other mental health illnesses are at an increased risk for symptoms to worsen.  The COVID-19 pandemic marks a turning point, moving mental health up the list of global health priorities. As Guyana struggles to rebuild its damaged economy, we must accept the reality of the financial toll of mental ill-health and invest wisely now to benefit and support our people.

With the clustering of multiple social determinants of mental health; fear and anxiety about COVID-19, emotional distress resulting from illness, bereavement, unemployment, income loss, and loneliness due to social isolation. Although the psychological toll of COVID-19 is already apparent, the effects will be far-reaching.

Hence, sooner or later, our health systems will be faced with widespread demand to address these COVID-19-related mental health needs. It is time that we start campaigns on mental health and help to erase that stigma attached to as being “mad” and should be equally balanced with our physical health.

I call for the inclusion of mental health and psychosocial support in the COVID-19 response. There has been an historic underinvestment in mental health needs in Guyana and it needs to be readdressed without delay to reduce immense suffering among hundreds of our people and mitigate long-term social and economic costs to society.

Yours sincerely,
Shameena Haniff
General Manager, CIOG