Today, October 10, 2025, marks World Mental Health Day. It is a time when the world pauses to bring awareness to this important issue, and to remind citizens of the right to access quality mental health care. It is also an opportunity to ensure that adequate resources, including a vibrant and skilled workforce, are available to give support to individuals and communities suffering from any form of mental illness. This year’s theme is captioned, “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) (2025), 11 Billion persons live with a mental health condition which is the leading cause of disability globally, and a significant contributor to years lived with disability and early death. It is reported that one in every five people is very likely to have a mental health condition.
Recent conflicts in the Gaza Strip, with Israel and Palestine, the War with Russia and Ukraine, and Guyana’s own sovereignty being threatened can instill fear in the populace. The fear of not knowing what will happen next, the rising cost of living, the clarion call by certain sections of the citizenry for an increase in compensation for transportation service provided, migrants displacement, an increase in domestic violence, climate hazards – like heat waves – leading to trauma, anxiety, and depression, the emergence and re-emergence of diseases, and to the people with the effects of Long-Covid Symptoms, these of which can all trigger an unwanted mental state. In other words, no matter how small the circumstance or current event, the effects can all take a toll on everyone’s mental well-being and emotional stress levels, across life cycles, and with varied experiences.
Today on this World Mental Health Day, efforts must be made to have vulnerable people realize the importance of sitting and talking and seeking help. Church groups, Community groups, Social Workers Associations must be vigilant and proactive to identify relevant cases in a timely manner to address mental health concerns and ensure families build resilience and recover from crises.
With several health professionals trained in Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP), the Ministry of Health possessing a National Mental Health Action Plan, And the Mental Health Protection and Promotion Bill – Bill No 7 of 2022 passed in the National Assembly, the question remains-Is enough being done? Is enough being done as it relates to the treatment and care of a prisoner with a mental illness, and persons found wandering in our streets?
The Mental Health and Promotion Bill – Bill No 7 of 2022 has imposed an obligation on the Minister of Health for prompt interventions to be taken and guarantee that the relevant policies, measures, and programs relating to mental health are implemented. The clarion call goes out on World Mental Health Day 2025, for us all to respect the dignity, autonomy, and privacy of our citizens with mental illness. Let us labour collectively to ensure that there is the integration of mental health services in our Primary Health Care Settings across the ten developmental regions – with intersectoral cooperation, collaboration, communication, and continuity to avoid any potential catastrophe and emergency in this land of ours with a growing economy.
We salute you on World Mental Health Day.
Thank you.
