-actively supports changing the narrative through ‘MIND’
WHILE the United Nations World Mental Health Day was observed on October 10, 2026, under the theme, ‘Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change,’ a recent episode of EDYOU Pulse featured Shannette Dey a psychologist, and mental health advocate, who shared her story and strong advice on mental health and well-being.
While many people still struggle with believing that mental health issues do exist, hearing the voices of those who have experiences and have lived and conquered mental health struggles, persons are able to better understand what mental health struggles look like.
Sharing her story, Dey said she started self-doubting and comparing herself to others as a teenager.
“I would say mentally, I would have beaten myself down a lot because of what I would see happening for others, especially females in my age group and not myself; and that transcended into difficulties in relationship, and most of me asking questions like, why am I feeling this way? Why am I doing this? And why am I able to conquer this thought? and I always had a love for the unknown, what goes on in the human mind, and it just confirmed me registering for psychology, and I started the programme and getting to learn more about myself,” she said.
Dey pursued a degree in psychology, and later established her own company, “MIND” in 2018, with mental health at the forefront of discussions.
While noting that mental health exists, she questioned whether we are accessing it. Dey said, “MIND” started as a sensitisation platform where information was given to persons on how to deal specifically with stress and burnout, and we would go on the seawall, we would go in the gardens, we would meet persons and talk with them, nothing professional at that time, but just sharing experiences and things you can do to cope with life.”
She said that this transcended to her first event, which was “When Men Speak,” where she hosted around 10 men on a panel to share their experiences, while the women were in the audience.
Since its inception, MIND has been committed to raising awareness about mental health, promoting wellness practices, and equipping individuals with tools to navigate life’s challenges effectively.
The organisation’s key objectives include raising awareness through sensitisation campaigns to educate communities about mental health and psychosocial development, offering support by providing counselling services and connecting individuals with accessible mental health resources across Guyana, and fostering discussions through its interactive forums.
Beyond forums, “MIND” hosts a number of mindfulness and wellness activities that support mental health, including guided meditation sessions that focus on breathing exercises to reduce anxiety and improve mindfulness, mindfulness workshops that provide training on staying present through activities like mindful journaling and mindful eating, stress relief programmes featuring yoga classes and stress-management techniques to enhance work-life balance, and empowerment exercises that include self-affirmation sessions and goal-setting workshops aimed at building confidence and aligning actions with aspirations.
