IT’S always great to see the overwhelming support for mental health care and those individuals in need of support on special days like World Mental Health day, World Suicide Prevention day, and so. Still, recent reports served as a reminder that there must be that energy on the rest of the days of the year.

Last week, I wrote about the need for more psychological support in schools. This week was a stark reminder that our mental health challenges and shortcomings extend far beyond schools. This reminder came from a report about the heartbreaking plight of a majority of the patients at the National Psychiatric hospital in Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne).

For years, this facility and its services have been cause for much concern. As a reporter at the Guyana Chronicle, the first Sunday lead story I ‘clinched’ was a 2016 article detailing a former Health Minister’s wish to demolish the structure because of its deplorable state.

Since then, I acknowledge that there have been efforts to improve the facility. Yet, a physical transformation has done little to cater to the crucial needs of people; that physical transformation can’t meet their needs.

Why I say this because the current Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony, noted, last week, that more than half of the over 200 patients in that facility can be discharged. Yet, the local health authorities are forced to keep them there because there is no family, community, or support system for them to return home to.

And that’s telling about how we treat mentally ill individuals here.

Stigma and discrimination have been longstanding issues. I mean, our laws criminalised suicide (so you could go to jail for attempted suicide. Jail, not to professional care). Our 1930 Mental Health ordinance was also an outdated, archaic piece of legislation that was only repealed this year with the passage of the new Mental Health Promotion and Protection Bill.

Then there’s also the availability of resources, including healthcare professionals equipped to support individuals in need. As I wrote last week, there aren’t enough professionals for each school. So imagine how stretched thin the existing crop of professionals must be to respond to the broader societal needs.

Fortunately, the Health Minister also said, last week, that new training could see all doctors at health centres across the country trained to identify depression, at least, in a bid to detect mental illnesses early. It is a six-week programme comprising several modules and the Health Minister said within the “next couple of years”, all of these healthcare workers should be trained. This move, he believes, could see more people getting the necessary support much earlier and, ultimately, save lives.

Those aside, there is still concern about how we interact with each other and view mental illnesses. I’m not a mental health professional, but I don’t believe it takes a genius to figure out that mental health is not treated nearly as seriously as other aspects of health. That’s probably a poor comparison to make, yet, it appears to be the case from too many indications. Too many of us rather laugh about people showing signs of a mental illness than help them get the necessary assistance. Too many of us still think of depression, anxiety, and other illnesses as signs of weakness instead of serious health concerns.

How can we support people if we invalidate their experiences?

There are these considerations and so many more to mull over when we think about mental health and healthcare, generally, in Guyana. But I hope that we don’t wait for another October 10th to observe World Mental Health day and only then remember that there are many problems to be solved.

If you would like to discuss this column or any of my previous writings, please feel free to contact me via email: vish14ragobeer@gmail.com