Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter
WRIGHT
AT LEAST 10,000 persons are treated yearly for mental illnesses, while there are at least 6,000 mentally ill in-patients in hospitals islandwide, says one of the country's leading psychiatrists.
These illnesses include schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic and other severe anxiety disorders, autism and pervasive developmental disorders, as well as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
According to Dr. Earl Wright, head of the Mental Health Department at the Ministry of Health, mental illness is often misperceived in Jamaica.
"Historically, when people say 'mental' in Jamaica, they automatically think of madness and the diagnosis we call schizophrenia, but this accounts for only one per cent of the population," Dr. Wright told The Gleaner yesterday. "Worldwide, the incidences are one to 1.2 per cent."
He pointed out that, based on studies carried out in Jamaica, one of the most common mental illnesses in the country is major depressive disorder. At least 19 per cent of the population suffer from this condition, a number higher than most countries.
MORE COMMON IN WOMEN
Dr. Wright said this particular mental illness is more common in women than in men, due to hormonal changes that women undergo.
He added that high incidences of traumatic events are the main cause for this high percentage.
"We have high incidences of trauma, homicide, violence, motor vehicle accidents and hurricanes," Dr. Wright said. "When you have incidents that produce high stress, that are life-threatening, you tend to have higher incidences of major depressive disorder."
However, while the percentage of persons suffering from major depressive disorder is high for Jamaica, Dr. Wright stressed that the suicide rate is lower than most countries.
"Our suicide rate is three per 100,000," he said. "For some Scandinavian countries, their suicide rate is 30 per 100,000, North America 11 per 100,000 and Trinidad, 10 per 100,000."
According to Dr. Wright, the most common mental illness is substance abuse, particularly alcohol abuse.
"Dependency on any drug is a mental illness," he stressed. "In Jamaica, the most common is alcohol abuse followed by marijuana and cocaine."
According to the National Council on Drug Abuse, of 1.5 million Jamaicans between the ages of 12-55 years old, 92,800 were found to be suffering from alcohol abuse.
Dr. Wright said medication such as antidepressants, along with talk therapy, are the main treatments for mental disorders.
Symptoms of mental illness
Mental illness refers to a group of brain disorders that cause severe disturbances in thinking, feeling and relating, often resulting in an inability to cope with the ordinary demands of life.
1. Changes in thinking or perceiving
Hallucinations.
Delusions.
Excessive fears or suspiciousness.
Inability to concentrate.
2. Changes in mood
Sadness coming out of nowhere; unrelated to events or circumstances.
Extreme excitement or euphoria.
Pessimism.
Expressions of hopelessness.
Loss of interest in once pleasurable activities.
Thinking or talking about suicide.
3. Changes in behaviour
Sitting and doing nothing.
Friendlessness; abnormal self-involvement.
Dropping out of activities; decline in academic or athletic performance.
Hostility.
Indifference, even in highly important situations.
Inability to express joy.
Inappropriate laughter.
Inability to concentrate or cope with minor problems.
Irrational statements.
Peculiar use of words or language structure.
Excessive fears or suspiciousness.
Involvement in automobile accidents.
Drug or alcohol abuse.
Forgetfulness and loss of valuable possessions.
Attempts to escape through geographic change; frequent moves or hitchhiking trips.
Bizarre behaviour (skipping, staring, strange posturing).
Unusual sensitivity to noises, light, clothing.
4. Physical changes
Hyperactivity or inactivity or alternations of these.
Deterioration in hygiene or personal care.
Unexplained weight gain or loss.
Sleeping too much or being unable to sleep.
- Source: NAMIwisconsin.org
