Linden professionals renew calls to end stigma, discrimination against mental health victims

– as Mental Health Awareness Month concludes

Healthcare professionals attached to the Mental Health Department of the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) have renewed calls to end the stigma and discrimination against mental health sufferers, as Mental Health Awareness Month wrapped up on Friday last.

As part of the planned month of activities, officials attached to the Mental Health Clinic hosted a “Day of Pampering” for patients and their caregivers.
During the activity, they were awarded hampers and prizes were awarded to patients for “Best attendance”, “Most Improved” as well as the “Most Consistent Caretaker”.
Mental Health patients were also treated to a cultural programme which included tributes, songs, poems and several dance routines. This was followed by a session of manicures, pedicures, hairstyles, facials, makeup, dental and eye care services.
The objective of the event was to have patients and their caregivers feel loved and appreciated as they were also offered words of encouragement.
The LHC Mental Health Clinic presently has over 400 patients, and as such, staff members are in the process of converting a space at the former hospital into a more comfortable facility.
Upon completion, it will be equipped with beds and rooms for examination, as well as to facilitate one on one discussions and a pharmacy.
Owing to the number of patients, the issue of mental illness is quite prevalent in the community, as the staff continues to work to put an end to the stigma attached to the illness.
In this regard, a Mental Health Awareness rally is planned for June 14 aimed at expanding ideas to the community in an effort to fight against discrimination as it relates to mental conditions, including suicide, as it was stressed that this issue not only affects the Linden community but the entire country.
“Some persons, unless they get a victim in their family, they don’t understand the importance of mental health, so we would like to sensitise them… first of all, [we will] try to eradicate the stigma at every level…in our homes, with our friends, in the hospital environment, all over. Most of the patients who don’t feel free to come here is because of the stigma…Secondly, it’s important to let the relatives know the importance, to encourage the patients to come to the clinic and to come on time”, Cuban Consultant/Psychiatrist attached to the Clinic, Dr Sandra Gilart Ananguren stated.
Dr Ananguren also stressed that follow-up visits to the clinic are also important, noting that oftentimes relatives stop taking affected family members after a few visits. In such cases, she explained that patients can suffer a relapse and the consequences could be worse.
“It’s for the patients’ own benefit. Some disorders, illnesses can be treated, well since the beginning, with the proper treatment permanently for a certain period of time and some patients, once it’s not a chronic condition, it can be reversible. They can go back into the society, which is another one of our objectives in the clinic,” she explained.
Dr Ananguren also noted that it is very important to have community involvement and encouraged the public to report to the relevant authorities if they feel someone may need help.
Officials have noted that a lot of caregivers tend to go into a state of depression due to the frustration of dealing with relatives who suffer from mental health issues. In this regard, they believe that the clinic is there to lend support.
The officials also conduct home visits and medical outreaches in addition to an ongoing anti-bullying school campaign.
Trained Mental Health Nurse, Tricia McKenzie told Guyana Times that through the assistance patients receive from the clinic, some patients have had a complete transformation.
She noted that some have even taken up jobs at the hospital and other places as security officers.
“We have some long-standing patients that were able to hold down jobs because they were consistent with coming to clinic. Some were able to start a family, build a house…there is life after an attack of a mental breakdown. You just have to come to the clinic, get the medication on time, every time, and they can live a normal life”, she said.
McKenzie, who has been working in the mental health area for years, said a lot of work is needed in the region with regards to mental health. She said there is a need for people to be more educated on its issues, as she too alluded to the stigma.
Officials have noted that the most prevalent form of mental illness seen in the community presently is substance-induced psychosis, a condition caused by substance abuse which leads to hallucinations and which causes the sufferer to go into a psychotic state.
They posited that this issue is more common among young people between teenage years to their early twenties.
According to McKenzie, discrimination is presently a very sore point for mental health as she stressed that sufferers need love, care and support.
“We need to embrace them and let them know that we love and care for them and that there is help. A lot of people suffer silently”, she noted.
McKenzie further indicated that the clinic is strategically located in a secluded area which makes it safer and private.
“We open our arms…we don’t shun any of our patients. We love them, we show them that we genuinely care and we want them to get better, to live a normal life. If there is anybody with a patient suffering from mental illness, bring them in”, she encouraged.
The Department also plans to conduct a televised panel discussion on general aspects of mental health. It also hosted a public consultation which kickstarted the month of activities last month. The programmes are a collaborative effort between the Mental Health Department, Public Health Ministry and Regional Health Officer Dr Pansy Armstrong. (Utamu Belle)