Mental Illnesses Still Taboo In The Bahamas:
By Paige Ferguson -
Nassau, Bahamas:

One Bahamian mental health professional contends that history has shown that throughout the ages mental illnesses were considered taboo, and that to some extent, at least in this country, they still are.

She said societies used to consider people plagued with the diseases to be possessed by spirits.

In recent times, researchers have found explanations and new treatments for mental disorders making communities more sensitive to the conditions.

However psychologist and lecturer at the College of the Bahamas, Dr. Stephanie Hutcheson said The Bahamas is still in the Dark Ages in terms of diagnosis and treatment.

According to record keepers at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Center for Mental Treatment, every year over 1,000 Bahamians are admitted into the center; and those numbers are increasing.

In fact, Dr. Hutcheson said during the time she worked at Sandilands she was surprised to see that the majority of people being admitted into the center were young men.

"They were generally being treated for drug induced [mental] illnesses, which differs slightly," she said.

Dr. Hutcheson said she has noticed that more and more Bahamians are struggling with mental disorders but are not seeking professional help.

According to Dr. Hutcheson the most common types of disorders in the Bahamas are mood disorders, which include; bipolar disorder - also known as manic depression, clinical depression and dysthymia [or a less severe form of depression].

She said although those disorders can be inherited, they can also be triggered by high stress situations and become very severe.

"Think about it, the whole body works together, [one part] is not separated from the rest of your body," she said.

"If you are not feeling all right mentally, over a long period of time it might show up in terms of how you feel physically."

Dr. Hutcheson said mental health is quite possibly more important that physical health and Bahamians should not take any irregularities lightly.

"If your body is not feeling well, usually it goes to reason that you’re not doing so well mentally either," she said.

"If you’re not feeling good today because you have this ache or this pain, it could be connected to how you feel mentally. So [all parts of] the body go together."

Dr. Hutcheson said Bahamian society plays a heavy role on how mental illnesses are perceived.

"I think the unknown, not really knowing enough about the illness, and also having all the media attention of all of the really bad cases. That could have people thinking that if someone is mentally ill they’re going to hurt me or they may go off the deep end if I get them upset," she said.

"I think the not knowing is probably what feeds that fear more than anything else. And just not knowing how to help someone who has been diagnosed with a condition."

Dr. Hutcheson said it is important to be sensitive to those who may have symptoms of a mood disorder.

She said paying attention to clues like sleeplessness or fatigue, sudden loss of appetite or weight, weight gain, difficulty concentrating or making decisions and frequent talks of suicide and death are clear warnings that a person may need professional help.

22 September 2007