Last Friday the Eureka Medical Laboratories Inc (EML) launched a Psychodiagnostics and Family Centre at Thomas Street, Cummingsburg, Georgetown.
Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, speaking at the launch expressed her delight at the Eureka initiative to boost the Mental Health department in its attempt to respond to the myriad of prevailing mental health issues and to promote mental health for every child and adult in Guyana. The minister conveyed the government’s appreciation for the establishment of the centre and pledged the Ministry’s support and collaboration efforts.
According to her presentation released by EML, the Minister stated that the World Health Organisation estimated that there are 300 million worldwide living with depression, with the possibility of the number escalating by 2030, and the world body is focusing on countries intervening and arresting this cause of ill health and disability.
“We can estimate therefore in Guyana’s current population, some 112,500 to 150,000 persons are likely to suffer from some form of depression,” Lawrence was quoted as saying.
Lawrence added that the country’s high ranking on the list of suicide deaths, the incidence of domestic violence and the witnessing of people of unsound mind on the streets are all reasons why the centre must be supported, as it strives to provide quality mental health care, the press release said.
According to the press release, the Minister envisions that the centre will be working in partnership with NGOs and that with the availability of quality psychological care at the centre, Guyana will soon boast an improvement in its mental health status. She also noted with interest the long term plans for the establishment of an in-patient crisis centre for suicidal clients and a women’s crisis centre where clients can remain for assistance until they can manage their lives.
EML’s CEO Andy Boyle speaking at the launch, stated that the goals of the centre were to offer psychological services of a high standard, to treat clients like royalty, whilst guaranteeing and adhering to confidentiality, professionalism, courtesy and thoroughness.
The Eureka Psychodiagnostics and Family centre is a multidisciplinary behaviourial health care practice which offers psychological services, child and family health services to Guyana with primary focus on Georgetown and neighbouring communities, the press release stated. The services offered include counseling, psychological testing, family diagnosis and therapy, family crisis intervention, women’s crisis intervention, psychotherapy, substance abuse programmes and contracted mental health services.
The centre is co-founded by Boyle, his spouse, Dr. Karen Boyle, and Ren Gonsalves, a psychologist. Lisandro Hidalgo is a collaborative psychologist at the centre.
