IN Jamaica there is a running assumption that treatment for mental health-related illnesses is expensive and out of the reach of the average man. Some Jamaicans go as far as saying that mental illnesses are rich people problems.

Neither of those statements are factual. Firstly, mental illnesses are not selective and regardless of your race, gender, and economic standing, you could possibly suffer from anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or any other mental health disorder. Secondly, there are several options available to assist people who struggle with a mental illness to afford their treatment.

I’ve found most of these to be very helpful on my journey, and so I am sharing them with you.

NHF card

The National Health Fund (NHF) is an agency under the Ministry of Health and Wellness and they provide Jamaicans who struggle with chronic health conditions with an NHF card. People who struggle with a mental illness and require medication will find this card helpful because it reduces the cost of medication and makes it more affordable for you to begin your healing journey.

Health insurance

One of the benefits of having formal, full-time employment in Jamaica is health insurance. With your health card, the cost to visit a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, is subsidised. This means that you pay less than you would without it. Health insurance also covers some of the costs of some medication and combined with your NHF card can give you massive savings.

The Internet and books

I’ve always found reading to be relaxing, and it is actually one of my self-soothing techniques. When I was first diagnosed with an anxiety disorder I scoured the Internet reading all the articles I could find, and even bought books and downloaded some worksheets. Of course not everyone is crazy about reading and so if you’re from the generation of people who only read if absolutely necessary, you can get the audio version of the books you think may be helpful.

Group therapy

I recently found out that group therapy is a thing in Jamaica, and it made me quite happy. Group therapy means that instead of individual sessions with a psychologist, your sessions are shared with a group of people who are experiencing similar struggles. Not only are group therapy sessions more affordable, but they can also help you build an informal support system as you meet people who are on the same healing journey as you are.

Counselling

While not my first recommendation, counsellors do have a place in the mental health ecosystem. They are great at providing a listening ear for people who are dealing with difficult situations, and often more affordable than psychiatrists and psychologist. One thing to note is that most counselling sessions are done with people from a religious background and so the advice and the responses come from a faith-based standpoint.

If you struggle with symptoms of any mental health disorder, I hope you will find the resources above to be helpful. I also strongly recommend that you consider speaking to a mental health professional who will be able to help you cope with or overcome your illness. All the best!

Sereta Thompson is a public relations professional and mental health advocate. She can be contacted at seretaathompson@gmail.com Follow her on Instagram @ShadesOfSerri