Dear Editor,

I am writing to express my disappointment with the high level of stigma and feelings of shame among many families and loved ones of people who are afflicted with mental illness.

Just recently I heard a mother of a teenaged boy who is afflicted with bipolar disorder complaining that no one in the family, except for her, wants to accompany the child to the mental health clinic as they felt ashamed. When I pressed to find out what they are ashamed of, I was told that the family does not want anyone to know that the boy has a mental illness. It took me two months to convince the family members that there is no shame in sickness and they should rally around their loved one.

As a mental health patient for close to 25 years, I can easily understand and empathise with the families of people with mental illness who are struggling to internalise and accept their diagnoses. There is a dark cloud called stigma and shame that still hangs over our heads as mental health patients. Despite significant gains made in reducing stigma and shame, much more needs to be done to educate the general public about mental health. The public needs to know that people like myself and many others who are afflicted with mental illnesses are normal people who just happen to be sick and are in need of treatment. Mental illness is a legitimate illness, just like diabetes or hypertension. It can’t be wished away or cured with holy or healing waters.

It is full time the Government increases its investment in mental health services to further reduce the stigma around mental illness. Often the stigma leads patients to refuse treatment, which invariably results in the deterioration of our respective mental health condition. Education, has to play a significant role in our treatment; it is very important that mental health patients and our loved ones be taught how to recognise adverse signs and symptoms as well as how to navigate the stigma associated with mental illness.

I am making two simple recommendations to help break the back of the stigma which has surrounded mental illness for over 4,000 years.

The Ministry of Health should train and appoint a cadre of mental health patients to serve as ambassadors in the different regions. These ambassadors would be tasked to create partnerships with social institutions, such as the homes, schools, and churches, to increase awareness and education around mental illness. The ministry would also be highlighting the competence and resilience within the community of the mentally ill.

The ministry should also establish mental health support groups in the different regions. The Ministry of Health can use the human resources in the mental health department to help organise mental health support groups. These support groups would provide safe spaces for mentally ill people to share their experiences with others, listen to different stories, and unburden their struggles while getting support from resource personnel.

These are cost-effective and low maintenance projects that I believe the Ministry of Health can implement in short order. I am appealing to Minister Christopher Tufton, as well as the director of Mental Health Services Dr Kevin Goldbourne to give consideration to these simple but effective recommendations.

It is full time we stand up to stigma and stop speaking shamefully in hushed tones about mental illness. There is no shame in sickness! Sickness does not discriminate! Those of us who are afflicted with mental illness did not bring it on ourselves and are not to be blamed or put to shame. The word is always love.

Andre’ A O Wellington

Mental health patient and advocate

andrewellington344@yahoo.com