Regional Health Services launch Mental Health week of activities

By Royan Abrams

A week of activities has been planned by the Regional Health Services in Region Six to observe Mental Health month 2016 which is being celebrated under the theme “Psychological and Mental Health; Fist Aid For All”.

The activities were launched today at the New Amsterdam Psychiatric Hosptial with a Church service and breakfast for patients of the Psychiatric Hospital.

During this Sunday’s event, patients, nurses, doctors, and other officials from the Hospital engaged in prayers, scripture reading, singing of hymns as well as a sermon from a pastor in the area before having breakfast together.

Speaking with media operatives at the conclusion of the ceremony, medical Superintendant for the Mental Health Unit, Dr Vineshri Khirodar disclosed that although Sunday’s event kicks off the week of activities, on Monday will be the official launch of mental health month which will commence with a parade.

She added that the parade is expected to start at Philadelphia Street in New Amsterdam, making its way past the Regional Health Services building where the salute will be taken and then to the psychiatric hospital for the conclusion and the official launching ceremony.

At Monday’s official launch, it is anticipated that the Minister of Health along with other dignitaries, the director of mental health, members of the Region Six RDC, members of the law enforcement bodies and Non-Governmental Organisations which fund mental health in the region, will be in attendance.

The parade is expected to be bigger and better than previous years as over 300 persons are expected to partake in the walk to demonstrate and highlight their views on mental health while at the same time sensitising the public.

“The following day (Tuesday) we have pampering of the patients here in the morning and when we are finish here we will be going to the old folks home, the Dharam Shala and other homes to extend the services of grooming and pampering those patients also, subsequently in the afternoon we will be visiting some schools in the New Amsterdam and Canje area where discussions will be held on mental health, suicide etc” Dr Khirodar added.

Additionally, there will be a luncheon on Wednesday for the patients of the New Amsterdam Psychiatric Hospital which currently hosts over 250 persons. The following day (Thursday) patients will benefit from an outing to Skeldon, then to the #63 Beach on the Corentyne.

The medical Superintendant of the mental health unit said “most of these patients been around here all the time, they don’t really go much places and they don’t really be out of the compound, some don’t have family members to come see them most of them so they are basically residents of this institution”

The Mental health week of activities will conclude with an activity for the staff members and a day of sport.