Dr. Martin: Mental health should be a top priority
By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
~~Adz:Right~~BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A public call has been made for “all in civil society to make mental health a top priority” in St. Christopher and Nevis as this is an issue which affects a consideration part of the society.
The call was made by Dr. Patrick Martin, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), earlier this week during a radio broadcast officially declaring Mental Health Week open, which runs from October 5-12.
“Mental Disorders affect at least one in 10 persons in the world. In St. Kitts and Nevis the data from the community health centers count 550 clients registered in the mental health clinic. The actual number of person affected with mental disorders is much higher, probably as high as 2 500 or 10 percent of the adult population.”
Dr. Martin said that persons with mental illnesses include those who suffer from “depression, persons contemplating suicide, persons with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders; epilepsy, dementia and disorders due to the misuse and abuse of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and prescription drugs.” He explained that these persons “can be helped to live fruitful lives. However, because of stigma and shame they tend to avoid the professional help they need or refuse it outright”.
Martin explained that the world in which we live is one filled with “high stress which could severely challenge even the most resilient among us”. Thus, he said, the time has come for the country to give the problem of mental disorders as much attention as is given to other “health burdens” such as diabetes, cancer and HIV/AIDS.
“Gone are the days of dismissing people with mental disorders as ‘crazy people’. We live in a world with high stress…How many of us are one hurricane, one mortgage payment or one death in our family away from the limit of coping?”
Building on the adage which states, “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure”, Dr. Martin suggested that it is better and cheaper to provide treatment for mentally ill individuals as opposed to dealing with the “complications of no treatment”. He said there are some resources employed to deal with such persons, but the intensity and frequency of these are not adequate.
“Civil society has a vital role to play in advocating for and investing in the needed services; monitoring their quality and coverage and providing feedback to administrators and policy makers…The cost of treatment is much less than the cost of managing the complications of no treatment. Our task, therefore, is to open our minds and hearts to those who may be experiencing mental difficulties at this time and make it easier for them to get help. They can be helped!”
In order for the “successful implementation of a comprehensive and unified mental health programme” to take place in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, commitment has to come from “the highest political level because the essential seed resources flow from that place. We look forward to a time when professional services are provided on a regular basis to those who appear disturbed and aimlessly walk our streets. We must help those who are overstressed, anxious, terrorised and fearful. Help is desperately needed for persons who drink and smoke to the point of addiction in order to pacify their painful innermost thoughts. Help is needed for those who are angry to the point of violence to self and others”.
The Dr. reiterated that persons suffering with mental disorders need urgent attention and repeated his call to civil society.
“The time is now for compassionate and scaling-up of compassionate and caring services for persons with mental disorders. This is a serious call to action to all in civil society to make mental health a top priority in this country.”
