With one of the highest suicide rates in the world, it is not surprising that many Guyanese struggle with mental health challenges. Poor understanding of these challenges and lack of relevant support needed to manage or overcome them has resulted in many remaining unequipped to deal with the impacts of their illness. A mental health tool that has been gaining increased popularity over the years, is that of therapy. The cultural shift as it relates to the importance of therapy must not be understated as many have suffered as a result of the beliefs many hold concerning accessing professional mental health care. It does not help that we have solidified a culture wherein pushing through the traumas and challenges experienced is the norm, rather than being encouraged and provided with the support that is necessary to overcome them.
Aversion to therapy is largely due to the heavy stigma that is associated with mental illnesses. Many retain the belief that it is caused by supernatural elements and prior misdeeds rather than it being the way the mind responds to trauma. These beliefs are incredibly harmful as persons are unable to get the medical and practical help that they need and instead are steadily pointed in the direction of pastors, pandits and the likes. This is not to say that spiritual practices cannot provide some help to those struggling. It has been found that for those who are spiritually inclined, there can be a certain amount of comfort to be found within these practices, but these should not replace the very real need for medication and therapy that they might require, as doing so will further prolong their illness and even cause it to deteriorate.
Of course, it must be acknowledged that therapy, despite progress over the years, has largely remained inaccessible to many. For starters, we have very few therapists in Guyana and largely, they are centralised within Region Four. While e-therapy has been propelled due to the pandemic, there are still a lot of limitations to this and many persons struggling and wanting to access therapy in other regions are unable to. Chief amongst this inaccessibility is the issue of cost, many simply cannot afford therapy. With a population where a large amount can be considered the working poor, therapy can often seem like a luxury only the middle class and upper-classes can afford.
While the number of mental health professionals are steadily growing, and this is a positive step, it is helpful to remember that they are not made equal. Finding a therapist that is right for you can take a bit of trial and error as many come into the profession clinging to biases and stereotypes. So those with intersecting identities can often find it incredibly difficult finding someone who they feel they can be safe and open with as there are therapists who are homophobic, transphobic or are uncomfortable discussing topics such as sexual assault etc. Therapists who are aware of their limitations are good as they know they cannot take on clients that they cannot realistically develop a plan of healing for, even if that itself comes with some ethical considerations. The ones that do the most harm are those who might aim to provide therapy to marginalised groups despite their biases, often resulting in them being dismissive of the struggles faced by these groups, and/or providing them with advice that is not suitable and which further promotes harm.
As a practise that was largely developed for and by white persons of comfortable means in a time where systemic discrimination analysis was not well developed, it is clear that therapy while incredibly helpful, is not without its limitations. Today it continues to put forward the narrative that mental health challenges are primarily based on one’s personal inability to cope, rather than the structural issues they face such as racism, sexism, poverty, environmental crises etc. The field continues to individualise social issues, making persons feel broken for responding realistically to the environment surrounding them. Addressing mental health issues will never be as simple as having more mental health professionals or cutting the costs required to practise therapy. It requires a holistic approach in addressing the social ills in our society that contribute towards mental illnesses in the first place.
