Dear Editor,
I have mental health problems. I have had it for nearly twenty years. It is not something that I am ashamed of nor need to hide. I am fortunate to live in a society where the majority of people are understanding and tolerant of mental health problems.
Today there is more understanding in society of people with mental health problems. Yet, some people still discriminate against people with mental health problems.
I do not discriminate against anyone. Be it for gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, mental health, etc. It does not mean that I need to have the same viewpoint of someone with say, as an example, who is religious. As long as you do not treat people differently based on their religious beliefs then that is not discrimination.
Discrimination is when you would knowingly treat someone differently because they are a man/woman, based on their race, religion, sexual orientation, etc.
Remember: many of Guyana’s Laws were enacted when there was little understanding of mental health in comparison to today. If you must know, I lead an ordinary life just like everyone else. I take medication (an injection that lasts a month) that helps me.
One in sixteen people have had a psychosis problem in the UK (that is about 4m people).
Yours faithfully,
Sean Ori
