Citizens in remote regions gain new access to psychiatric help through telemedicine

Residents in far-flung regions of Guyana now have better access to psychiatric care, thanks to the opening of 87 new telemedicine centres in Regions 1, 7, 8, 9, and 10.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, announced this initiative on Wednesday. It marks a significant step forward in making mental health services more accessible to remote communities.

Through the telemedicine system, psychiatrists based in Georgetown will be able to reach out to individuals in these regions, providing essential support and psychiatric help. If further investigation or specialised care is required, patients can be brought to facilities in the city for additional treatment.

Guyana’s mental health services have long faced challenges, with the country currently having less than one psychiatrist per 100,000 people—well below the World Health Organisation’s recommended ratio. This new initiative aims to bridge the gap in access to mental health care and improve the quality of services for individuals in remote areas.

The announcement follows the Ministry of Health’s broader efforts to reform the country’s mental health care system. In September last year, the ministry revealed plans to downsize and eventually close the National Psychiatric Hospital (NPH) in Berbice, Region Six.

This move is part of a strategy to decentralise services and integrate people with severe mental illnesses back into their communities, where they can receive care close to home.

As outlined in the ‘Guyana National Mental Health and Suicide Plan,’ the focus is on reducing stigma and human rights violations by moving away from institutionalisation and towards community-based care. The new approach aims to ensure that individuals with mental health conditions are treated with dignity and are able to reintegrate into society, while also improving access to services.

While progress was slow under the previous National Mental Health Plan, which sought to reduce the capacity of the NPH by 50%, the new plan brings a fresh focus on the needs of individuals and the decentralisation of services.

Currently, the NPH houses 195 patients, 160 of whom are long-term residents. The hospital employs 190 staff members, providing a one-to-one staff-to-patient ratio.

The revised mental health strategy includes a needs-based assessment to guide the distribution of resources across various regions, with the aim of establishing both inpatient and outpatient facilities to ensure that mental health care is available nationwide.

In addition, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security will collaborate with the Ministry of Health to help reintegrate long-term patients with their families. For those without family support, the plan includes the establishment of community rehabilitation facilities.