Nineteen doctors from Region Three have completed mental health training, DPI/GINA said.
These doctors were trained through the Ministry of Public Health’s (MOPH) mhGAP Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG) programme. A release from DPI/ GINA said that the mental health practitioners will be attached to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, La Grange, Parika, Vergenoegen, Wakenaam and Canal No 1 among others.
This programme is part of Guyana’s National Mental Health Action plan 2015-2020. This training provides non-specialized doctors with the requisite skills and knowledge to better screen patients and provide diagnostic assessment for persons living with mental illnesses.
This is the third batch that has graduated from the programme. This ceremony was held at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, Wednesday afternoon. Regions 6 and 4 have also benefitted.
Director of the Mental Health Unit Dr Util Richmond-Thomas said that 15-20 percent of Guyana’s population is battling with a mental health issue at any given time.
Dr Richmond-Thomas congratulated the nineteen health workers, and said that by having efficient primary health care providers, “It will make it easier for persons battling mental health issues. They will no longer have to be afraid to be seen going to the psychiatric clinic, and then after being the object of laughter, or ridicule, or even lose their jobs.”
Dr. Richmond-Thomas also said that a National Self Harm Surveillance System will be launched soon, because there are a startling number of these types of cases.
