Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Moses John Roderique, Shares Practical Tips for Coping with Stress, Understanding Depression, and Reclaiming Your Peace in the Age of Social Media

THE world is moving faster than it ever has, and with the rise of social media, information about our fast-paced reality is being shared at lightning speed. While this influx of content can be helpful, it isn’t always positive. Throughout May, Guyana continues to observe Mental Health Awareness Month under the theme, “Turn Awareness into Action.” This week, The Pepperpot Magazine sat down with Dr. Moses John Roderique, a licensed clinical psychologist, to explore what mental health really means, why it demands our attention, and what practical steps we can take to stay grounded amid the chaos.

Stress, Depression, and Mental Health

Antigua-born and now practising in Guyana, Dr. Roderique is a seasoned clinical psychologist who operates a private practice. He shared that a large portion of his patients experience high levels of stress.
“On a clientele basis, I’ve seen a max — let’s say, every day — 75% of persons who come to consult because they think they have depression, that they are stressed out, that they are in distress. So it’s mostly all of the clients on a daily basis. Stress slash anxiety,” he shared.

Though stress may resemble depression, Dr. Roderique emphasised the importance of understanding the distinction between the two, and seeking professional help for proper diagnosis.
“Stress in its very basic look, of course, will be really intentional, physical or emotional tension. Why? Because of a situation, an event or a thought. I want to debunk that stress and depression are not necessarily the same thing. Depression is a clinically diagnosable disorder, and stress is actually something that leads to that disorder,” he explained.

He added that many people mistakenly equate minor stress with clinical depression, often due to a lack of understanding.
“Some persons, they don’t really know what mental health is. So they loosely use the word of, ‘Hey, I’m depressed,’ when they have a little stress. So they think they’re depressed. And I always tell clients and patients, well, hey, you don’t want to really say that unless you’re evaluated,” he stated.

The Real Impact of the Virtual World

Social media is inescapable. From joyous milestones to global tragedies, we’re constantly exposed to a barrage of content,  some of which we’d rather not see. Dr. Roderique explained that this exposure can have serious mental health consequences.
“Just imagine, we see many events online every single day. You wake up in the morning, you see an event happen, an accident, you will see a murder, you will see global instability, you will see certain things very, very much clear when you just swipe through Facebook or whichever social media platform. And so it’s the body’s response. So they definitely will feel a bit of stress because it’s a natural response,” he said.

The key, he explained, lies in moderation and awareness of how we engage with these platforms.
“Social media in the way of how we handle it, or its use, would make it even better for us. If we know we are people who cannot deal with spontaneous events being popped up before our very eyes in the morning or in the night-time, then we would want to have some self-control to not look on social media at different intervals.”

He added,
“Getting to the point of exposure — that hey, this is going to be seen — is definitely something that we ought to consider.”

While social media can offer community and support, it also presents a flood of distressing content. Dr Roderique’s advice? Spend more time away from your phone.
“Social media — the use of words can be positive or negative, right? Self-control is important when addressing social media — that’s the line I address things with when it comes to social media.”

He continued,
“If you know that, of course, you cannot deal with certain things, then social media will want to be of its limited use on your end.”

Tips for Better Mental Health

Given how much time people spend online, disconnecting can feel daunting. But Dr. Roderique said that simple offline activities can make a meaningful difference.
“One of the practical ways to spend less time on social media and have better mental health would be to engage in physical activities, a hobby or interest that you like, a game that you like, a sport that you like. to actually engage with it and to move forward with being physically healthy, which is intrinsically linked to being emotionally healthy.”

He also recommends mindfulness practices that involve pausing and reflecting — something social media rarely encourages.
“Another thing, of course, is deep breathing, mindfulness techniques — where you would actually ensure that you can pause and reflect and think, or pause and breathe. Sometimes you just need to breathe, sometimes you just need to pause and have some connectors as to: is this really worth it? Is it something I can handle? Where do I go from here? And you do some exercises where that is concerned,” he said.

And while reducing phone usage is helpful, Dr. Roderique said that technology can still play a productive role.
“Nobody wants to write, but I even made it a bit crafty for my clients and patients. Everybody has a phone now, everybody wants to text, but they don’t want to write. So there are some online journals that you can use just for mental health, of course — that is private — so that’s another one.”

He added,
“Because we’re technologically advanced, there are some mental health apps particularly helpful for the young population. So these are some that can actually help as tips when it comes to stress.”

A Second Dimension of Health

Dr. Roderique believes that mental health should be viewed as an equal partner to physical health, not as a lesser priority.

As Guyana continues to “Turn Awareness into Action” this Mental Health Awareness Month, Dr. Roderique’s insights serve as a timely reminder: our minds need just as much care as our bodies, and it starts with understanding, action, and balance.