The University of Guyana (UG) yesterday commissioned the Jay and Sylvia Sobhraj Centre for Behavioural Research and Science (CeBeReS), and also launched a Master’s in Clinical Psychology degree programme.
Representatives took pains to mention that one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives and as the ceremony prepared to move into a musical interlude, this statistic was vividly brought to life when a student volunteer appeared to have a breakdown.
The student approached the podium as Dr Paloma Mohamed-Martin attempted to introduce a taped presentation by UNICEF Representative to Guyana Sylvie Fouet, and began declaring herself to be the best dramatist in the world before demanding that a minister attend to her.
A shocked Mohamed-Martin called for security to intervene when the student’s use of expletives made it clear that this was not a planned presentation. Eventually, the distressed young woman was escorted off stage and offered care by the mental health professionals present.
Speaking after the incident, Dr Katija Khan, who represented the Caribbean Alliance of National Psychological Association, described the incident as a “sober experience” of how mental illness is all around us and affects all of us.
She stressed that while such incidents can be distressing, persons must remember that they have nothing to fear from those struggling with mental health. She added that this underscores the importance of the work which was being commemorated with the commissioning of the building and the launch of the master’s progamme.
The US$665,000 centre, which was re-designed from an existing building, will house several important institutes and offices that UG expects to have a great cumulative impact on Guyana.
Specifically, the building houses the new medic’s service clinic, the first state-of-the-art teaching centre for psychological care and counselling, the university’s bookstore, and three large lecture rooms, which have all been fully furnished and equipped by the Sobhrajs.
According to Vice-Chancellor Ivelaw Griffith, the centre is a “manifestation of dreams come to reality.”
“Not only does it reinforce, provide the evidence of the wisdom of some of our pursuits. It also suggests that some of the central tenets of our project [the renaissance project] has value,” he said.
Griffith noted that one central tenets of university’s ongoing Project Renaissance is to build partnerships rather than depend on government for all investment, while a second tenet is to engage the diaspora.
“Connect with the community, connect with businesses, and connect with our alums. Partnership is important to Project Renaissance,” he stressed.
In addition to the US$520,000 donated by Jay and Sylvia Sobhraj, the university also received a donation of US$45,000 in services from architect and UG alumnus Sheldon Williams and contractor Ryan Shivraj, who also attended UG. Williams, the founder and CEO of Master’s Architectural and Engineering Inc, crafted the building to depict a wave.
This new centre will also provide clinical and psychological services to the university and public through internships in the new psychology suite of programmes, which are being supported by UNICEF.
The suite of programmes offered includes the Diploma in General Psycho-logy, which was launched in October 2017, and the Master’s in Clinical Psycho-logy launched yesterday. The Bachelor’s in General Psychology is expected to come on stream in September 2019.
According to Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr Karen Cummings, it is heartening to see the partnership which has led to the birthing of the “valuable facility.”
Mental health, she explained, is a priority for the ministry, which has been working to build capacity in the area through various training programmes.
“This programme is a major asset which will provide a broader pool for the ministry to utilise as they holistically address mental health care,” Cummings stressed.
The university has expressed the view that the centre and the programmes offered there will increase the number of mental health providers available to evaluate and treat psychological conditions for those in need, particularly those exposed to trauma.
These resources, it says, will contribute to reducing the high rate of suicide in Guyana, lead to increased psychological well-being, and help to educate the population regarding mental health issues, which will increase awareness, prevention, support, and compassion for those suffering from mental illness.
