From the time I was a child growing up, mental health has been one of the most misrepresented issues in society. The term “mad’ is thrown about so loosely. I am sure at some time you have heard “You trying to send me into the mental!” or “You like you mad!” Over the years Barbadians have remained clueless as to what a mental disorder is, what support system could be given to the vulnerable in society and how to help others rehabilitate into ‘normal’ people.
Mental wellbeing is essential for everyone and as such, investing in mental health should be a priority for all of government and all of society.
The misconception that many have is, every mental disorder is severe like schizophrenia where a person has multiple personalities or bipolar disorder where there is a sudden and drastic change in moods.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) states one in four persons globally will be affected by a mental disorder or neurological disorder in their lifetime. And currently, 450 million persons are affected by these disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dementia and substance (e.g. alcohol, nicotine) dependency.
You could be a young strapped athletic person, doing well in school and come from a well-rounded family. Something drastic could happen overnight, like the death of a lost one. That one incident may be too much for you to recover from and cause you go into a state of depression. That depression could be a mental disorder. You could be the student who gets anxiety whenever it is examination time. That too could be a disorder. I am sure we remember the lady that stripped off her clothes and walked all through Bridgetown naked. There is a back-ground story to that, but in essence she was pushed past her breaking point and we as a society failed her. How about the Shawn (not his real name) that was battling depression to the point where he committed suicide early this year? We as a community failed him.
Mental health should be rolling off our tongues in the same seriousness as cancer. There needs to be more platforms to educate people about mental health and how to recognize you or someone else needs help. This should start with our education system. Within our school system there is one guidance counsellor assigned to an entire school with the exception of two schools. There are also two social workers and one senior psychologist accountable for all the primary and secondary schools on the island. This is by no means adequate. There needs to be mandatory training sessions for teachers to identify issues and assist students where they can along with notifying relevant parties (parents and principals) who then can make a referral. There should also be a mandatory session for students that educates them on the signs of mental disorders and the steps they should take if they see these signs within themselves and others.
At seventeen years old, Malea (not her real name) was diagnosed with a mental disorder. After building up courage she disclosed it to her close friends. Her friends gradually became fewer as the word got around. With no support within the education system she became dependent on the community and members who understood what she was going through. The church and members in our community can do more. There needs to be more outreach programs, counselling and sensitization workshops. Not only for those suffering from disorders but for the entire community. Our main focus should be to eradicate the notion that having a mental disorder makes you a ‘madman’. This would aid in an easy transition process into society for out-patients or persons with a history of mental disorders. The removal of the discrimination and the stigma these illnesses suffer within society would assist in people having a chance of being seen as ‘normal’.
With this current pandemic resulting in people having financial struggles, amongst numerous other concerns, many people are displaying some form of mental disorder which may go undiagnosed due to lack of knowledge or fear of the stigma attached to it. Minister of Health and Wellness Jeffrey Bostic recognizes the need for more to be done with regards to mental health during these pressing times. He said in an interview with The nation newspaper, “One of the things that was recognised globally during the COVID-19 pandemic is the fact that a mental wellness programme is one of the major weapons used to fight the pandemic, but at the same time, it has been one of the most neglected weapons including [here] …we are nowhere near where we are supposed to be and we have to change that.”
Lastly, the method for treating mental disorders in Barbados needs to be revised. It is 2020, more needs to be done in the region other than using pills and injections (sometimes daily) as the go to solutions. There are times when the drug isn’t effective in treating the mental health disorder or the side effects of the drugs are chances of having psychotic behavior. Internationally there are alternative treatments
for mental disorders. One method which has led to significant improvement in a person's behavior is the holistic approach. It provides natural options to treat mental illness without medication such as yoga and change in diet. This along with other methods should be made available to Barbadians suffering from mental disorders.
If you or someone you know is suffering from a mental disorder, and you need directions where to go for help, drop a comment in the comment section or send an email. We look forward to providing information to assist.
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