Addressing the phenomenon of mental health

Jan 03, 2012 Editorial

We Guyanese are not very subtle (and certainly not very kind) when we speak of the unfortunate souls who, afflicted with one or another mental shortcoming, live in our midst.
“Mad people” is about the kindest designation that is invoked and hurled at them. The State mental institution located in Berbice has always been known as “The Berbice Mad House”.
The rest of the world has recognised the insidious consequences of a belittling name and have chosen the title, “mentally challenged” for these individuals.
In the last decade or so, the population of individuals who are mentally challenged has grown by leaps and bounds – if we are to go by the burgeoning numbers that can be seen roaming our streets. Most of the reports on this phenomenon focus on the state of affairs in Georgetown but the problem is nationwide. Every rural village has its share of the mentally challenged who inhabit the public space and in too many instances are abused in myriad ways.
One would have thought that by now the authorities would have revisited its rules for dealing with this group in a structured manner. Some years ago we were informed that the regulations for institutionalising the mentally challenged had been loosened radically, resulting in the influx into our streets. Another factor during the same time period has been the increased use of hard drugs, which have a deleterious effect on the mental faculties of the habitual users.
The change that has had the greatest impact, however, has been the gradual shift in the mores of our population as to their responsibilities towards relatives who are mentally challenged. Up to the seventies, the family was expected to take care of their own and state institutionalisation was seen as an extreme last resort – and considered as a failure of the family. Today the loosening of the Guyanese family structure has forced many of even the borderline cases into the streets.
The state certainly has an interest in seeking to help these unfortunate souls to live a life that is integrated more positively with their fellow citizens. As it is, the average citizens skirt very warily around the mentally challenged who inhabit our streets – especially after the newspapers highlight the occasional acts of violence that a small minority resort to. Most of the mentally challenged persons are more of a threat to themselves than others. It would be an interesting statistic, for instance, if we could be informed of the number of the mentally challenged who are the victims of accidents, rapes, beatings and other atrocities in comparison to those they inflict on others.
A mark of our humanity is how we treat our less fortunate. If life in Guyana has proven to be so challenging to those of us with all our faculties intact, imagine what it must be like to those who are mentally challenged: they are certainly our most unfortunate. We have a Ministry of Social Services that must deal with this problem in a coherent and structured manner.
Let us begin with a study that informs us of the magnitude of the problem. We are certain that it will qualify as a public health emergency.
The phenomenon of mental health is not a new one and various intervention strategies have been attempted across the globe. We are sure that our public health officials, in collaboration with our social services personnel can craft an initial intervention programme suitable to our circumstances. The programme would then be monitored and amended as necessary.
Funding cannot be a constraining factor. If the money can be found for structures of very dubious economic value, but of some entertainment worth, we are positive that funds can be sourced to help the mental health of some of our citizens who live in the most oppressive, depressing and disgraceful conditions.

2 thoughts on “Addressing the phenomenon of mental health”

dannyvid January 3, 2012 at 2:23 pm

Perhaps, FK may need some help too.
Patricia Benjamin January 3, 2012 at 4:06 pm

the number of mentally challenged individuals are rapidly on the increase. it is the responsibility of the state to take care of these ill persons, instead they leave them to roam the streets and fend for themselves and do not care if they live or die. the enormous cash that the government steals for their personal pleasures should be utilized for improvement in this area; but then again, what do they care, after all the mentally challenged that live in this inhumane condition and in the twilight of things are mostly young black men and women. although I get emotional at their plight, there is nothing that I can do but pray for a government who truely cares for it’s fellow human beings; and this, my friends begins with LOVE. let’s make a change, it is the begining of a new year.