The Ministry of Health is pleased to support the activities marking Mental Health Week, 2009, and recommends the remaining schedule of events to full public participation. A Health Fair is planned for Independence Square, Basseterre, on Friday October 9th. An array of free mental health promotion services will be available.
The Ministry commends the Mental Health Team of St. Kitts and Nevis for their assertive, integrated and comprehensive approach in raising the profile of mental health and sensitizing the nation to the needs of friends and family who are mentally challenged.
The team’s collaboration with Diversified Healthcare Solutions (DHS) is an example of ongoing and effective partnerships in health. DHS continues to facilitate world class learning opportunities to enhance the knowledge and skills of all healthcare workers.
The local theme for Mental Health Week is “Stop That Pain Now”. This is appropriate given the burden of persons enduring psychological and physical pain. There are over 600 persons benefitting from expert mental health services in the Federation. In St. Kitts, diagnoses of substance abuse disorders and depression accounted for one third of the 66 new clients in 2008.
While the physical pain associated with conditions such as traumatic injuries and cancer is readily understood, the profound impact of psychological pain demands the public’s attention.
Psychological pain is normally associated with stressful life experiences occurring from early childhood through adulthood. Events include indecent assault, rape, repressive physical punishment, abandonment by parents, emotional abuse, bullying, loss of a limb, loss of a loved one, divorce, loneliness, receiving the diagnosis of a life threatening disease, abortion, and intentional drugging. Such events occur in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Long standing physical pain and psychological pain drive persons of all ages to despair. In their desperation, some misuse legal and illegal substances in an attempt to find pain relief. In St. Kitts and Nevis, self-medication with alcohol, marijuana and cocaine is common. Unfortunately, some are entrapped by untrained and incompetent persons in our community and online, who pretend to offer expert mental health advice and treatment. The complications of malpractice in mental health include dissatisfaction and doctor shopping, addiction, loss of employment, financial bankruptcy, depression and psychosis.
Mental ill-health is not a stigma. Discrimination of mentally ill persons offends human dignity. Mental illnesses are preventable and treatable but only when managed by trained and competent personnel.
The Ministry of Health is pleased with the work of the Mental Health Team of St. Kitts and Nevis and recommends their services to the general public. Services may be accessed through the community health centers of both islands.
