Health Minister reveals that Gov’t formulating five-year mental health awareness plan

The Health Ministry’s Adolescent Health Unit, the Pan-American Health Organisation and the United Nations Children Fund, on Tuesday launched the Mental Health Awareness Activities and the ‘Do Your Share’ Campaign, as part of a collaborative effort to raise awareness of mental health issues and mental health stigma in Guyana

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony in delivering brief remarks, noted that the mental health environment in Guyana has seen significant changes, and said that the ministry is formulating a five-year plan for mental health awareness and improvement in Guyana.

“Back then they used to see the patient as someone that needed to be taken away from society and locked in an institution. Our approach is a rights-based approach that mental health patients have a right to be in society and therefore the new piece of legislation that we have passed has emphasised the rights-based approach to mental health,” Dr Anthony explained. 

PAHO/WHO Representative, Dr. Luis Codina stressed the importance of tackling the stigma against mental health through law reform, research and the provision of community-based mental health services.

“PAHO will continue to work with all stakeholders in helping Guyana in the strengthening of leadership, governance, effective mental health services, support the movement to community-based mental health, and in psychosocial support to improve preparedness, response, and resilience,” he pledged.

Dr Codina also pointed out that Guyana has succeeded in implementing some of these tactics. Dr Timothy Morgan of the Mental Health Unit, revealed the steps that have been taken to improve mental health care throughout the country.

“The Health Ministry, in collaboration with our local and international partners, continues to improve mental health care through progressive actions and policies. This includes expanding accessibility, improving mental health services, developing mental health research, and updating national policies and legislation that ensure the protection of the rights of people with mental health illnesses,” Dr Morgan said.

UNICEF Area Representative to Guyana and Suriname, Nicolas Pron, disclosed that the mental wellbeing of all in Guyana has been prioritised through partnerships with his organisation and the government.

Pron commended several key actions, such as the integration of interventions across the health, education and social protection sectors and the increased investment in child and adolescent mental health.

It was noted that the health ministry’s Adolescent Health Coordinator, Cilandell Glenn, Primary Health Care Director, Dr Ertenisa Hamilton, Representative of Desert Flower Guyana, Abigail Fraser and Miss Guyana World 2022, Andrea King were also present at the event.

Additionally, the theme for 2022’s World Mental Health Day is “Make mental health and well-being for all a global priority”, while the triennial theme for World Suicide Prevention Day is “Creating Hope through action”.