--psychologist says, encourages persons to explore various coping mechanisms

By Cindy Parkinson THERE is increasing evidence of persons from the ages of 16-35 years old being the section of the population most affected by mental health issues, Ministry of Health psychologist, Dr. Mark Constantine, has said. In a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, he said the prevailing situation warrants more attention on various coping mechanisms to deal with mental health issues, especially stress. Dr. Constantine, a clinical psychologist and pro-guidance counsellor, said that mental health refers to a person’s mental, emotional, and social well-being. Mental health disorders affect the way people think, feel and act towards themselves and others. Considering the impact such disorders could have on one’s health and, by extension, life, he said it is important for persons to pay attention to their mental health at every stage of their lives. “We should all recognise that there are a number of factors that contribute to the breakdown of a person’s mental health. Whether that be relationship issues, economics (lack of money), health-related issues, poor working environment, low self-esteem, among other things,” Dr. Constantine said. Prime among issues that affect a person’s mental health is stress. Stress, the psychologist said, while being ignored or underestimated many times, is actually a serious issue that not only affects a person’s behaviour, but also their overall health, and even their relationships with other people. There is significant evidence of many persons struggling, on a daily basis, with excessive stress and/or distress. Dr. Constantine said one of the greatest challenges in tackling this scourge is the known reality that Guyanese cannot or, in many cases, do not know how to cope with pressure. This, he related, is more common among young people, who tend to fall prey to substance abuse and excessive drinking while attempting to cope with stress. The psychologist said some persons also tend to experiment with various substances out of curiosity and do not realise how quickly they become dependent on them and, sadly, addicted as well. Dr. Constantine encouraged persons to look outside of dangerous practices and explore healthy and safe ways of coping with stress. He recommended that persons eat healthily, do simple exercises, complete tasks and take some time to relax. Many, if not all persons wish to live a stress-free life, but according to Dr. Constantine, this is not possible. STRESS IS INEVITABLE “Stress is necessary to the human body,” he said, adding: “it is a motivator, and it is because of stress that we, as human beings, are able to go to work and do what we do every day so that we can achieve and accomplish things.” Dr. Constantine went on to say: “However, stress becomes a problem when the stress level rises and becomes unmanageable or uncontrollable for the individual. It is not something that happens overnight, but rather creeps up on you over a period of time, with one situation leading to another, causing the individual to become overwhelmed and, in many cases, developing anxiety, depression, and suicide, among other things.” Challenges are inevitable and so is stress, so, according to the psychologist, persons have to develop a strong frame of mind to successfully overcome those issues. “We need to stop enabling people and start empowering them instead. There is a big difference between both,” Dr. Constantine said, noting that there are many signs and symptoms of mental health disorders that are too numerous to mention, but persons should be equipped with the knowledge to recognise the common issues and address them properly. Anxiety, panic attacks, uncontrollable anger and aggression towards loved ones for minor issues are just a few. In Guyana, there is still somewhat of a stigma attached to mental health disorders, as persons are quick to label victims as “mad” or crazy.” The stigma attached to mental health disorders, according to Dr. Constantine, is so great that some people refuse to go to the places where they could acquire help and treatment for their condition(s). “Seeking professional help or even talking with someone you can trust is the first step in the right direction. Trying to fight certain feelings or emotions on your own can sometimes lead to more harm than good, and we, as a nation, need to recognise that times have changed. We are a developing country, and human beings are very complex to understand, and as such, we should support each other instead of condemning,” he said. Stigma could significantly affect the lives of people with mental health problems in many different ways, diminishing their self-esteem and robbing them of their social life. Even with this being the case, there is no doubt that the Ministry of Health and other agencies have done and continue to do a lot of work to address mental health issues in Guyana. Dr. Constantine advised persons who need help for themselves, a loved one, or anyone affected by mental health issues, to visit or call the Ministry of Health’s Mental Health Unit or the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s (GPHC’s) Mental Health Department. He urged all Guyanese, especially young people, to make full use of the services that are offered by the Ministry of Health and the Government of Guyana.

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16-35 population most affected by mental health issues

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