– aims to transform mental health access
FOR Johnathan Barakat, psychology is more than a career, it is a calling rooted in compassion, resilience, and a vision to change how Guyana treats mental health.
Now, with a prestigious Chevening Scholarship in hand, the young psychologist is preparing to take his passion to the global stage at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, where he will pursue a Master’s in Clinical Psychology.
Barakat, who began his career as a Junior Psychologist at the Ministry of Health after completing his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Southern Caribbean, has long been committed to helping others navigate life’s challenges.
His work has ranged from counseling clients to designing community projects, teaching psychology at the sixth form level, and even building his own company—Prepwork Tutors—which has grown into a service offering not only academic tutoring but also corporate training to strengthen workforce resilience and emotional well-being.
Yet, despite these achievements, Barakat insists that his journey has only just begun. “It’s not just about pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Psych,” he explained. “It’s also about returning with the skills, perspectives, and connections to make mental health support more accessible in Guyana.”
Barakat’s Chevening journey was not without its setbacks. On his first application, he was placed as a reserved candidate. But his persistence paid off this year, and he sees the award as a stepping stone to addressing what he describes as Guyana’s urgent need for stronger mental health systems.
The country currently has a critically low number of trained Clinical Psychologists, a gap Barakat is determined to help fill.
His long-term vision is to return home, equipped with global best practices, to strengthen policies and scale up community-based programmes—especially in underserved rural areas where mental health services are scarce.
“I’ve witnessed firsthand how individuals struggle with mental illnesses, with little access to proper support,” he said. “Psychology has given me the tools to not only listen and guide, but also to create programmes that address these gaps. My hope is to take these programmes beyond Georgetown, to every community that needs them.”
Barakat has already set his sights on partnerships with local NGOs such as Blossom Inc. and ChildLink, along with the Ministries of Health and Education. His goal is to design initiatives that not only treat mental health issues but also prevent them by strengthening emotional resilience across communities.
By studying in the UK, he hopes to learn from models implemented in both urban and rural contexts and adapt them to Guyana’s unique challenges. “Chevening stood out to me because it connects scholars to a global community of leaders who are committed to giving back,” he noted. “That aligns with my vision of returning to Guyana and ensuring that mental health is treated with the same importance as physical health.”
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
As much as Barakat looks forward to the rigors of clinical training, he is equally eager to immerse himself in the UK’s cultural and academic environment. He sees it as an opportunity not only to represent Guyana but also to elevate the conversation around mental health at a global level.
“Mental health is often overlooked, and at times it feels like a façade, with people pretending to care,” he observed. “But there are those who are genuinely trying their best, and I commend them. If we invest in the emotional and psychological well-being of people, we are laying the foundation for stronger communities.”
Barakat hopes his journey will inspire other young Guyanese to aim high and pursue opportunities like Chevening. His message is clear: their voices and dreams matter on the global stage.
“I do hope my journey encourages others in Guyana to pursue opportunities like this, and that one day, we take mental health as seriously as physical health and remove it from being such a taboo topic,” he said.
As he prepares for this new chapter, Barakat carries with him not only his ambitions but also the hopes of a nation still grappling with the importance of mental well-being. His dream is not just to earn a degree abroad, but to bring back knowledge and tools that will nurture healthier, more resilient communities in Guyana.