Dalhousie helps address mental health crisis

The need was and is extensive: more people in this South American country suffer from a mental health condition than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. Yet, Guyana may now be among the world's most progressive nations in treating mental health problems, under a 3-year program developed in conjunction with the Dalhousie University Department of Psychiatry.

A 3-year program to develop a national mental health plan for Guyana is nearing completion with the aid of the Dalhousie University Department of Psychiatry. Photo by: Dr. Stan Kutcher

The seeds for the partnership were sown in 2005 when the Pan American Health Organization asked Dr. Stan Kutcher and his colleagues to assist in the aftermath of floods that were devastating the country. “It became apparent the issue wasn't mental health issues arising out of the floods they were having but that there was no mental health policy or infrastructure,” says Kutcher, professor of psychiatry at Dalhousie Medical School and project co-leader.

There is today. As a result of the initiative, Guyana now has a mental health policy and a national mental health plan is nearing completion. Training has been provided to Medexes, who provide frontline health services, and primary care physicians.

As well, says Kutcher, “we're just starting to apply a very innovative model based on integrating mental health care into every aspect of health care.”

“Interestingly,” the director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre in Mental Health Training and Policy Development adds, “it could move mental health care ahead of where we are [in Canada].”