Do you know someone suffering from a mental illness? Think carefully before you answer. Mental illness is a term that describes a broad range of mental and emotional conditions. Mental illness also refers to one portion of the broader ADA term mental impairment, and is different from other covered mental impairments such as mental retardation, organic brain damage, and learning disabilities. The term ‘psychiatric disability’ is used when mental illness significantly interferes with the performance of major life activities, such as learning, working and communicating, among others. There are several common forms of mental illness such as anxiety disorders including panic disorders, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorders and post traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, mood disorders comprise major depression (extreme or prolonged episodes of sadness where a person loses interest in previously enjoyed activities), bipolar disorder (manic depressive condition that consist of alternating manic “highs” and depression “lows”), Dysthymia (continuous low grade symptoms of major depression and anxiety).
Schizophrenia disorders also fall into the category of mental illness. Research has not yet determined whether schizophrenia is a single disorder or a group of related illnesses. The illness is highly complex, and few generalizations hold true for all people diagnosed with schizophrenia disorders. Dr Gina Watson, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) representative for Barbados and the OECS was the featured speaker at the opening of the St Lucia National Mental Wellness Center on March 1. It was a grand occasion as the largest and most advanced mental health facility in the OECS was declared open.

Dr Watson shared a quote from Oliver Wendell Holmes, “Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against it—but sail we must. And not drift, nor lie at anchor.”

She described the new mental centre as a positive step as opposed to a mental hospital and expressed her excitement at the opportunities for mental reform awaiting the people of St Lucia.

“For the longest time we’ve lived with the fear considering that mental illness is synonymous with violence. At times we have confused mental illness with demonic possessions and we read about it in the Bible, from historical measures and moments but I say to you violence by and among persons with mental disorders is a longstanding myth that leads to stigma and discrimination against those living with this illness,”
Dr Watson said.

She admits there have been incidents of violence in persons with mental health problems but she is adamant that it could have been avoided with proper, sustained care and support at all levels of the health system.

Commenting on the treatment of persons with mental disorders, she said “It hurts me when across the border in countries, you walk into a mental health facility and you see patients in conditions that are below human dignity. These persons are treated worse than you would treat any pet in any home, regardless of its social condition.”

Dr Watson asserted this should not be, because mental health patients have rights including the right to be spoken to respectfully and be identified by their names, the right to information on their condition and alternatives to hospitalization.

“Worldwide mental health disorders are identified as the top ten leading cause of disability.” And it is for this reason that mental health is considered one of the silent pandemics which tend to be forgotten. It is a pandemic because, according to Dr Watson, the following take a toll on the society as a whole: “The emotional and financial burden placed on the family of the patient, the measure of economic burden includes the overall cost of health and social services needed, the loss of earnings and the reduced productivity of others, the unmeasurable burden includes lack of self esteem, dependence, stigmatization and destruction of family and community life and on many occasions, avoidable death and violence in this context.”

Experts say people with mental disabilities and illness can function in society. Someone can experience a mental illness over many years. The type, intensity and duration of symptoms vary from person to person. They come and go and do not always follow a regular pattern, making it difficult to predict when symptoms and functioning will flare up, even if treatment recommendations are followed. The symptoms of mental illness often are effectively controlled through medication and/or psychotherapy, and may even go into remission. For some people, the illness continues to cause periodic episodes that require treatment. Consequently, some people with mental illness will need no support, others may need only occasional support, and still others may require more substantial, ongoing support to maintain their productivity.

Many hope that the Mental Wellness Centre will cater to the needs of those often forgotten people.