Development must include tackling mental health, substance abuse – Pres Ali

…reaffirms commitment to push for holistic development

Emphasising the need for a holistic approach to development, President Dr Irfaan Ali on a visit to Skeldon, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), stressed the need for societal issues such as substance abuse and mental health, to be addressed countrywide.

President Ali, accompanied by several cabinet colleagues, on Sunday visited the Region Six community of Skeldon. While there, the President spoke of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s commitment to development, but also noted the need for a holistic approach in addressing substance abuse and mental health.
“We cannot think only about development only in terms of beautiful roads and education and jobs… we have to think about development in terms of wellness, mental health. Things that are eroding our mental capacity, our mental health. Our wellness.”
“And we have to ensure that in the building out of this country, we also ensure that the abuse of every single substance, every single thing that erodes our wellness and mental health, that we also address those issues,” he said.
Further, the President noted the importance of him raising such issues at the meeting, noting that it comes from a place of love. According to President Ali, he has a duty to address difficult but important topics that concern the wellbeing of the citizens.
“You might ask, why am I addressing such an issue at this meeting today. I’m addressing it because we love and care for you. And any good family member who loves and care for you, will try to address even the most difficult issues and problems,” the Head of State added.
The Government has made various efforts to address both mental health and substance abuse at the policy level, including the passage of the Mental Health Protection and Promotion Bill 2022. Enshrined in the law are a series of rights for mental health patients, including access to care.
The Act provides for the mental health care of persons suffering from mental illness and protects, promotes and fulfils the rights of those persons during the delivery of mental health care. Additionally, it seeks to promote the mental health and well-being of persons in Guyana and to ensure that all persons receive the best mental health care.
Last year, the Ministry of Health of Guyana in collaboration with the International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF), with the support of Global Affairs Canada (GAC), completed the Gatekeepers Training for Suicide Prevention Programme.
This initiative trained 800 community figures, called Gatekeepers, across all 10 regions of Guyana, to possess basic essential skills and knowledge to intervene in suicidal situations while working in conjunction with the Regional Health Authorities, for referral to specialist mental health services as required.
In 2024, Guyana recorded 40 cases of death by suicide during the period January to August. In 2023, the Health Ministry had recorded 100 deaths by suicide across the country. And moreover, in April of 2024, the Government launched the National Mental Health Action Plan & Suicide Prevention Plan 2024 – 2030, which adopts a human rights approach to addressing mental health and suicide.
Meanwhile, the Government has also made significant efforts at a policy level to curb drunk driving, a deadly offshoot of substance abuse. This has resulted in amendments to the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act and Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill 2022, which raise the penalty for driving under the influence and also make bar owners responsible for serving drinks to a drunk driver.
The Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill requires establishments to verify patrons’ legal drinking age, typically 18, which they can do through valid identification checks. Additionally, signs and announcements discouraging drinking and driving must be prominently displayed on the premises.
Violations of the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Act come with steep penalties, starting at $100,000 for a first offence and escalating to between $200,000 and $500,000 for subsequent infractions.