Local university hosts mental health targeted outreach

As part of efforts to sensitize citizens about mental health and related illnesses, the American University of Peace Studies on Sunday hosted a medical and counselling outreach for residents of Georgetown living primarily in the Campbellville area.
Over the course of last week, the students of this institution visited homes in several communities around Georgetown to inform them of the outreach. As part of that exercise, the students took the opportunity to sensitize persons on the symptoms and effects of mental illnesses, and encouraged them to visit Sunday’s

outreach so that they may be able to learn more.
Speaking on the reasoning behind the benevolent initiative, Lecturer Nadine McIntosh-Ramsarran said, “What we found out is that a number of times persons have anxiety issues, and the anxiety issues manifest themselves in the medical issues.”
She explained that one aspect of a person’s health tends to affect the other, this mix-up often resulting in wrong diagnosis or inability of a physician to identify the problem.
“Medical issues patients have do affect their mental health, and mental health also affects physical health,” she noted. The Psychologist highlighted that as a result of this, a doctor may carry out various medical tests on a patient and still find no physical evidence of the illness.
Aside from mental health screening, persons were able to benefit from services such as blood sugar testing, blood pressure testing, eye testing, heart testing and HIV testing. In the case of the eye tests, persons were able to receive spectacles they could utilize. In the aspect of mental health, counselling and therapy were provided for individuals seeking help and support with family and relationship issues. Therapy for anxiety and depression was given, as well as counseling for children with emotional and behavioural issues. Medication and prescriptions were also made available to patients visiting the outreach.
The team for the outreach consisted of medical doctors among whom was an OB/GYN; an ECG technician, counsellors, therapists, and students of the institution.
An elated McIntosh-Ramsarran dubbed the outreach a great success and noted that the services provided were very effective.
“There were some patients who came in thinking they had heart problems, but when we checked it out, it was just anxiety,” she noted.
American University of Peace Studies is a tertiary educational institution registered with the National Accreditation Council of Guyana.