BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE spotlight will fall on the dozens of mentally impaired persons on St. Kitts and Nevis next month as the nation holds its third annual Mental Health Week.
Slated for October 4 to 11, the week will be held under the general theme “Mental Health in Primary Care: Enhancing Treatment and Promoting Mental Health”. Across both islands, a number of events and activities have been planned in acknowledgment.
Organiser Dr. Sharon Halliday revealed that the sub-theme of “Stop the Pain” was adopted for this year’s celebrations. According to the psychiatrist, this was done to encourage general practitioners and nurses within communities to “look at the total issue”.
“If someone goes to a doctor complaining of pain, the normal procedure is just to treat them for that. There’s not much examination into what emotional or psychological issues are causing that physical response. Many times, that pain is the manifestation of some mental ailment.
“On the other hand, physical pain can lead to depression and other mental illnesses,” she added.
“It’s important that persons both outside and inside the medical field are aware of the psychological issues that contribute to, and are caused by pain. That way, we can begin to practice proper pain management.”
Halliday noted the importance of persons working together to address mental health issues, explaining that the stigmatisation of mentally impaired persons still existed in the Federation.
She expressed hope that the week of activities would enable the public to gain a “broader perspective” on persons suffering from mental diseases.
The week will officially open with Sunday church services at the Basseterre Catholic Church and the St. Paul’s Anglican Church on October 4. The next day, “Pain Management: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” will be the subject of guest lecturer Dr. Winston Parris’s presentation, which will also be held at the Catholic Church.
Dr. Parris will repeat his discussion at the Charlestown Methodist Conference Hall on Wednesday (Oct. 6). There will also be an exhibition and craft sale outside of the Nevis Red Cross Centre.
The week will culminate with a Mental Health Fair in Independence Square on Friday (Oct. 9), where the public can receive free counselling and literature on mental health issues.
World Mental Health Day is celebrated each year on October 10.
