The Office of the President and the Ministry of Health have teamed up with SBM Offshore to launch a series of Mental Health Initiatives.

An animated series, a website and a 24hrs 915 Suicide Prevention Hotline are among the initiatives that have been launched.

The initiatives seek to address not only treatment, but also prevention, education and long-term support.

At the launching, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony said the initiatives are intended to place greater focus on mental health and provide support to those who need it.

He said the Government has made strides in changing the outlook for mental health in the country, but there is much more work to be done to address issues such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, low self-esteem and societal stigma that can result in attempted suicide or suicide.

“This is not a Ministry of Health problem, this is a societal problem and if we are going to deal with it, then all of us would have to work together to make sure that we can reduce the amount of cases of persons attempting suicide or for that matter we would like to see no one in this country committing suicide,” the Health Minister said.

The Health Minister said for its part, the Government has made legislative changes including a new Mental Health Act, and a Suicide Prevention Act.

A National Mental Health Action Plan and National Suicide Prevention Plan for Guyana were also previously launched, the Health Minister said.

Providing insight into the initiatives, the Public Health Officer at the Office of the President, Jessica Anthony explained that the website – Guyana’s Mental Health website (mental.gov.gy) is the brainchild of President Irfaan Ali, who strongly believes that improving mental health is essential to improving the lives of all Guyanese.

The website, she said will provide 24-hour support services.

“The website gives us a centralized, accessible and trusted space where people can learn more about mental health and access various resources. But the part that I am most excited about is the 24/7 chat platform that we have built into this site. Some people prefer to talk about their problems while some people, for whatever reason, may feel more comfortable to type. The chat platform is equipped with trained mental health support agents. Yes, they are real people,” she explained.

The Mental Health Officer said whether it is stress at work, family, conflict, anxiety or substance abuse, there are trained agents, who are ready to listen and help.

To complement the website, the partners have also created a Facebook page ‘Kind To Your Mind” to share information on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. The collaborators have also introduced a toll free 915 hotline for those in crisis.

Meanwhile, the animated series is intended to raise awareness on mental health matters.

SBM Offshore Sustainability Lead, Gwenetta Fordyce said the energy company was pleased to partner with both the Office of the President and the Ministry of Health to develop the series.

“The video series reflects that commitment. It tackles real mental health challenges – anxiety, depression, cyber bullying – in a way that is accessible, relatable and empowering for young people. These stories are designed not only to inform but to spark conversation, build empathy and inspire action. They are meant to educate, yes, but more importantly to encourage children to speak up, to reach our help and to understand that they are never alone,” Fordyce explained.

Fordyce said the project comes from a vision rooted in collaboration and care, and deep in commitment to the nation’s youth.

The National Mental Health Project, a collaborative initiative launched on Wednesday, aims to provide vital mental health support to those in need.

The initiative features a toll-free suicide hotline – 915 – to provide confidential support for anyone in crisis or in need of someone to talk to. Secondly, an official website – mentalhealth.gov.gy – that provides access to 24/7 live chat support with trained mental health professionals was also unveiled.

Thirdly, an animated series aimed at raising awareness and understanding of mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and cyberbullying was also launched. This series was designed to build empathy, encourage children and young people to speak up, ask for help and know that they are not alone.

These resources aim to provide confidential help to anyone experiencing mental health challenges.

The launch coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month and is a collaboration between the Ministry of Health, the Office of the President, and SBM Offshore.

“The hotline [915] is in answer to the needs of the people in Guyana to make mental health services more accessible wherever they are,” Director of the Mental Health Unit Dr. Timothy Morgan noted.

He noted that the project builds on progress made since the 2022 Suicide Prevention Act and the 2024 Mental Health Action Plan.

Meanwhile, Public Health Officer in the Office of the President, Jessica Anthony spoke about the importance of the new tools.

“The website gives us a centralized, accessible and trusted space where people can learn more about mental health and access various resources but the part I am most excited about is the 24/7 chat platform that we have built into this site,” Anthony explained.

The chat platform is equipped with trained mental health support agents. Anthony assured that the chat platform is confidential and does not require users to share personal contact information. In emergencies, users are redirected to the 915 hotline.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony acknowledged Guyana’s longstanding challenges with suicide and mental health, but said the country is now “starting to turn that around” through targeted action like the tools and resources launched on Tuesday.

Dr. Anthony also addressed shortcomings in the primary healthcare system where mental health concerns are often overlooked.

“We also recognised that when people come into our primary healthcare system that one of the challenges we have is that our doctors very often do not talk to people about mental health, so we talk to them about all the other things but sometimes we ignore mental health,” Dr Anthony explained.

And so, more than 100 physicians across the country have been trained to integrate mental health care into their services.

Some of the participants in the launch of the mental health initiative (Ministry of Health photo)

Representatives from international health bodies and ministries gathered yesterday morning for the official launch of the National Mental Health Initiatives, a landmark step in Guyana’s commitment to improving mental health outcomes.

The Ministry of Health today launched the National Mental Health Action Plan and National Suicide Prevention Plan for Guyana 2024-2030 with the support of the Pan American Health Organisation and the World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO).

The plans are expected to provide the country with Government aligned roadmaps that would see the decentralization of Mental Health Services in Guyana, while simultaneously addressing Suicide Prevention.

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony said the Mental Health Action Plan will address the age-old challenge of access to mental health services.

“As we develop this action plan, some of the things we have been working on in the ministry is how do we decentralize mental health care. A lot of mental health care was centralized at the Georgetown Public Hospital, and so, one of the steps we have taken is to take this out to other regional hospital. So now, people can access mental health services in Region 3, in Region 2 because we have decentralized care,” Minister Anthony explained.

The Health Minister also said that in compiling the National Mental Health Action Plan, the Health Ministry was cognizant of the fact that it did not accomplish a number of the measures outlined in the previous plan, and with the help of PAHO/WHO, a number of those measures were incorporated into the new plan, this time with realistic timelines and goals.

Minister Anthony said too that the legislation framework governing both mental health services and suicide prevention in Guyana were revamped.

“We were able to enhance the mental health environment in Guyana because when we looked at the laws we had in Guyana, they were quite outdated. Some of these things go back to the 1800s and we really wanted to ensure they were updated. So, one of the first things we did was to look at the legislation that governed mental health in Guyana, and we were then able to update that legislation building on work that was done, starting with Dr Leslie Ramsammy in 2010… and then another draft was done somewhere around 2018, and so more recently we were able to build on both pieces of draft legislation, and we were finally able to pass the Mental Health Promotion and Protection Bill, and now it is a law. Based on that, we have modernized in many respects what we do for mental health, and we have a human rights approach to mental health,” Minister Anthony explained.

He said similarly a new Suicide Prevention Bill was passed in the National Assembly in 2022, decriminalizing attempted suicide. It also laid the foundation for the establishment of a National Suicide Prevention Commission.

PAHO/WHO Country Representative, Dr Luis Codina said the Mental Health Action Plan will help to reform mental health services in Guyana.

“The first thing is, how can we reform the mental health sector that is inside the Health Sector but taking into account that we will not depend on rely on the psychiatric hospital. We will depend on regional hospitals for example general hospitals with a very strong response for crisis, five beds, 10 beds for mental health no more. With people trained, they can manage all the crisis but then people would need to return to their communities, so for that you need some psychosocial centers,” he explained.

Dr Codina said the psychosocial centres will provide medicinal and other services.

It was noted that in more cases, when persons are placed at psychiatric hospitals, their families find it difficult to accept them, and they are often left with no place to go. He said the plan will also address such issues.

PAHO/WHO Assistant Director in Guyana, Dr Rhona Sealey-Thomas said PAHO is pleased with the progress made by Guyana in addressing Mental Health as well as Suicide Prevention.

“PAHO is so pleased with the progress Guyana has made over the past years to raise the priority given to mental health, strengthen mental health legislation, analyze and address the mental health and psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on its citizens, and develop and implement a package of mental health services as the country endeavors to move towards community based mental health care. PAHO is aware that Guyana like many countries experience challenges from the lingering effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of various population groups. We are also aware that prior to the pandemic that barriers to accessing quality mental health and wellness services in the country, and limited funding was some of the major and growing contributors to high mental health burden in the country, so we therefore applaud the Ministry of Health and by extension for the marked progress that the country has made in addressing the mental health challenges of the population,” Dr Sealey-Thomas said.

Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy and Director of the Mental Health Unit, Dr Timothy Morgan were among the officials present at the Ministry of Health to witness the launch of the action plans.

Guyana’s new National Mental Health Action Plan and National Suicide Prevention Plan, targeting the years 2024 to 2030, was launched on Tuesday.

Though stakeholders believe the focus on mental health has increased over the year, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony explained that the new plan will address how substance abuse can be dealt with.

“One of the things you will see in the new action plan is an area we haven’t paid much attention to, substance abuse,” Dr. Anthony said on Tuesday’s launch of the new plan.

Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony at the launch of the plan (Photo: Ministry of Health/ April 09, 2024)

Substance abuse refers to the pattern of drug use – be it illegal drugs, prescription drugs or alcohol – in excessive amounts. Substance abuse can lead to several issues including social, physical and emotional problems.

Dr. Anthony explained that the Health Ministry provides support to persons battling substance abuse at about 10 clinics, and it supports two major non-governmental organisations (the Salvation Army and Phoenix Recovery) that help those affected too.

Looking ahead, Dr. Anthony said the Health Ministry hopes to find other partners to tackle substance abuse.

Another huge focus of the plan is the decentralisation of mental health services throughout Guyana. In hinterland regions, this will be done primarily through the novel telemedicine services.

“… we have 25 (telemedicine) sites in region 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10 where we have this infrastructure and we will add another 25 sites in another month,” Dr. Anthony said.

This new plan was developed in accordance with the National Mental Protection and Promotion Bill of 2022 and the Suicide Prevention Act of 2022. It is also expected to adopt a human rights approach to addressing mental health and suicide, thereby improving the treatment of patients suffering from these conditions.

GEORGETOWN, 19 September 2023 – More than 25 local journalists were trained to report responsibly on suicide, trauma, mass tragedies, and mental health issues during a recent two-day session hosted by the Guyana Press Association. Some journalists were visibly moved by the session, which included instruction on “self-care” for their own mental health when covering stressful events.
With funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) collaborated with the Ministry of Health (MoH) to support the training held earlier this month.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Luis Codina, PAHO/WHO Representative in Guyana, said responsible media coverage plays a key role in improving public comprehension about mental health issues. “I see the media playing a very important role in disseminating information on mental health and other health issues to inform the people for them to practice behavioural change,” Dr. Codina said. “That is the role we see you playing. So today, I encourage you all to do better in your reporting and continue to practice writing responsibly to help our people.”

Guyana Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony called on communications media to “help us change the narrative about mental health, particularly suicide, and bring an end to the stigma.”

The training was conducted by Ms. Meera Damji, the lead communication officer at the India-based agency Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, and Ms. Manisha Shastri, a research assistant. They focused on equipping journalists with the tools needed for responsible reporting on suicide, mental health, and trauma and mass tragedies as well as self-care.

Guyana’s Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Guyana Press Association requested the media training because of what they described as irresponsible reporting on suicide in newspapers and on social media platforms. During the training, reporters received instruction on how to write responsibly on this and other sensitive topics. Journalists were guided to share valuable information that will help people with mental health issues, especially those who might have suicidal thoughts. For example, reporters should include information on who and where people can call to get help.

The training followed the Sept. 12 World Suicide Prevention Day, held annually to focus attention on raising awareness, reducing stigma, and promoting the message that suicides are preventable. This year, PAHO organized a regional event to encourage responsible dissemination of information about suicide in the media and social networks, one of the main evidence-based strategies to prevent it.

“Suicide is a major public health problem for the Americas,” said Renato Olivera, head of the PAHO Mental Health Unit.
“The data are staggering. Between 2015 and 2019, more than 93,000 people in the region died by suicide each year, and the suicide rate increased 17% in the same period, making the Americas the only WHO region to record an increase,” he added.

Furthermore, he said, “the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated many of the risk factors for suicide, such as unemployment, financial insecurity, and social isolation,” so “the battle against suicide requires a collective effort,” which includes accessible mental health services integrated into the first level of care, as well as eliminating the stigma about mental illness.

During the training in Georgetown, many journalists were emotionally shaken when asked about their experience covering traumatic events. At one point, the training was halted to give journalists time to compose themselves. Ms. Shastri, who has a social work background, was able to provide support to those who needed it.

One reporter recounted covering a live shootout between police and a suspect, who had been firing randomly at people near the Georgetown Public Hospital. She and her team had to take cover to protect themselves. After the shooting, as she sat on a bench trying to recover, a stranger inquired if she was all right because she was covered in blood.

“We need to take care of our mental health because mental health matters for us, too,” the reporter said during the training. “We are human beings. We need to have some support system after covering such events.”

At the end of the training, journalists were asked for feedback. Many said they appreciate the self-care part of the training because they are often in stressful “frontline” situations that can affect mental health. They suggested continuing this type of training for journalists and thanked PAHO and the MoH for taking the initiative to support their health and well-being.

The government, through the Ministry of Health’s Adolescent Health Unit, has launched its ‘Let’s Talk Green Bench’ initiative in schools which is geared towards promoting mental health and well-being among the younger population.

It was officially launched in observance of World Mental Health Day on Tuesday, at the North Georgetown Secondary School, under the theme: ‘Mental Health is a universal Human Right.’

Through this initiative, twenty-five benches will be installed at twenty-five schools across Guyana. It is intended to be a safe space for students to go and have conversations on issues that are affecting them without feelings of stigma or discrimination.

Students can also scan the barcode on the benches to access information on mental health.

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony at the simple launching ceremony emphasised that stigma and discrimination still pose a challenge to mental health efforts, hence there is a need for more awareness.

“If people feel that they are being stigmatised, they won’t want to seek assistance; and if they’ll be discriminated against, they won’t access the services being offered. So, we need to destigmatise and ensure people don’t feel discrimination so that we can offer services to people who need them,” he stated.

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony

While touching on some of the changes within the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Act, Dr Anthony noted that as more attention is placed on mental health, better diagnoses are carried out along with treatment for persons with mental health conditions.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Representative of UNICEF Guyana and Suriname, Mr Irfan Akhtar, explained that the colour green is used to raise awareness and reduce mental health stigma by encouraging students to talk openly.

PAHO/WHO Representative Dr Luis Codina added that psychiatric hospitals around the world are closing since mental health issues are being addressed at the community level. The programme is being implemented collaboratively by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), and Desert Flower Guyana. (DPI)

UNICEF Country Representative for Guyana and Suriname, Nicholas Pron said Guyana is making significant strides in fostering good mental health and well-being among the population.

In his address at the 3rd Annual Mental Health and Well-Being Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) today, the UNICEF Representative said Guyana has implemented a series of programmes and projects aimed at tackling mental health.

“Guyana is definitely on the right track to tackling mental health and wellbeing at the early onset, at the school level. And acting early is one of the best ways to tackle poor mental health,” Prone said.

He said together with UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Government of Guyana has rolled out a number of school-based programmes, targeting children and adolescents.

“This year, we have invested in several initiatives to help children realise their rights to good mental health, and wellbeing in Guyana. In collaboration with PAHO/WHO and the Ministry of Health, we launched a joint programme on mental health and psychosocial wellbeing and the development of children and adolescents, and Guyana is actually, one of the pilot countries of this global initiative,” Pron pointed out.

Last October, the Government, through the Ministry of Health’s Adolescent Health Unit and with support from UNICEF, launched the ‘Let’s Talk Green Bench’ initiative in schools, which is aimed at promoting mental health and well-being among children and adolescents.

UNICEF is also partnering with the University of Guyana to roll out a number of programmes.

Pron said come next year, UNICEF will be gathering available data to support the development of a comprehensive adolescent mental health plan which will be used to guide the implementation of further interventions, adding that these programmes are critical to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said while the country’s mental health budget remains relatively small, it has grown over the years. He said the Government has been injecting funds into programmes under various Ministries to address mental health related issues.

“For the first time there are measurable amount of numbers of social workers in school. We are not where we want to be but for the first time, we have that,” Dr Ramsammy said.

Dr Ramsammy, who is a former Health Minister, said after more than two decades, Guyana passed a modern Mental Health Protection and Promotion Law, prioritizing the rights of mental health patients in Guyana in 2022.

“Guyana was able, after 20 years drafting exercise, to introduce a new Mental Health legislation that in fact promotes community based mental health approach; that approach mental wellness, and that downplayed and removed institutionalization as the major mental health approach. The law was also complemented with another one, which is the Suicide Prevention Act, which decriminalized suicide,” he said.

The Mental Health Protection and Promotion Bill repealed the Mental Health Ordinances of 1930.

Over the next three days, the conference will see Health experts discuss mental health and wellbeing with the hope of influencing local policies on the matter.

The conference has been organised by the Ministry of Health, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the University of Guyana and Columbia University.