Teenage mothers urged to access mental health services

…as Regional Health Dept and Mental Health Unit collaborates

Reaffirming the view that there is no health without mental health, the Mental Health Unit of the Public Health Ministry, in collaboration with the Regional Health Department of the Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) have embarked on an aggressive campaign that targets teenage mothers as they seek to combat what they have described as increasing mental health issues among that demographic.

According to Regional Health Officer (RHO) of Region Four, Dr Quincy Jones, 2018 is a year that he and his department, with the support of the RDC, intend to aggressively address a number of health-related challenges.
He said mental health is a top priority, noting that statistics have shown that a number of teenage mothers are affected by depression, and as such, his department has a mandate to address this worrying trend. “A number of teenage mothers were not prepared for their pregnancy and because of the many challenges that come with pregnancy, especially to an unprepared mother or more so a teenager, it can and may affect them mentally, thus we at the Health Department will continue to find ways and means in addressing this,” he said.
Dr Jones pointed out that through the many established Adolescent Days Clubs that many of his health centres have, it is a ‘perfect avenue’ to having mental health issues addressed. As such, he has taken a bold step with the Mental Health Unit to forge a formidable relationship in forging ahead with the aggressive plan. “There is always the common saying that there is no health without mental health and we firmly support this view, thus we have moved ahead in ensuring that our teenage mothers can have someone to talk to, to address their concerns, to share whatever is affecting them so we are ready and prepared to help and together with the Mental Health Unit, we will be able to address these issues,” Dr Jones reassured.
Sharing similar sentiments is Health Education Officer at the Mental Health Unit, Public Health Ministry, Tashia James, who told a number of teenage mothers that she can relate to the challenges faced in being a teenage mother. Tashia James disclosed that like them, she too was a teenage mother who endured what she dubbed “severe verbal and other challenges”.