Fixing To Make A Change:
By Kermit B. Fernander, Guardian Lifestyles Reporter -
Nassau, Bahamas:


People the world over have perhaps understood or accepted physical illness far more readily than they have ever understood or accepted mental illness. Indeed, as far back as the time of Christ, any illness or condition for which there was no obvious physical cause was simply attributed to possession by demons or evil spirits. End of story!

What is remarkable is that, in our day, the Bahamian culture is one of many that still cling to outdated myths about mental illness and, for this reason, significant stigma is attached to mental illness and to people affected by mental illness. And in The Bahamas it continues to be shrouded in myth and mystery. While local mental health care professionals believe that Bahamians have come a long way, they also believe that there is still a long way to go in our understanding and acceptance of mental illness.

"Bahamians are very well informed about depression, stress and the psychological effects of trauma. Some are very knowledgeable about mental health/mental illness and health generally, while others continue to believe the myths about mental illness, what causes mental illness and what can cure mental illness," said Dr. Nelson Clarke, Medical Chief of Staff at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre.

"Some Bahamians still see mental illness as affecting persons with 'constitutional weaknesses', and unlikely to affect people who are emotionally strong or people who are spiritually grounded," he said.

Curiously, a person's religious beliefs can, at times, conflict with treatment. Certified psychologist and family therapist, Barrington Brennen, who also directs counseling services for Adventists in The Bahamas, said that one of his greatest challenges is treating Christian people with depression and other mood disorders. Often these people refuse to take their medication, preferring to rely on their faith and the power of prayer.

"Yes, I do believe in prayer — and prayer is very powerful, however, Jesus wants us to use common sense," said Brennen from his unique perspective as a therapist and an ordained minister.

Citing schizophrenia as an example of a major mental disorder. And he said that people with the disorder must take their medication.

Part of his task is that of re-educating his clients and, at times, he has to insist that they return to their physicians or psychiatrists and resume taking their medication. Brennen also identified the reason we have so many religious fanatics in the community. He believes they are often people with an incurable mood disorder that can be managed well with medication — provided, of course, they take it.

But there are other factors that explain why mental illness continues to be enshrouded in mystery and myth in the Bahamian community which is a very multi-cultural society.

"There is a need to understand that new persons are being added to the population daily. They come from other cultures with their own beliefs about what causes mental illness and how they ought to be treated. We may not be aware of beliefs and cultural attitudes that these new Bahamians have ... and our health care personnel may not be sensitive to these issues in such a way that they would be helpful to these persons," said Dr. Clarke.

Bahamian psychiatrist, Dr. Timothy Barrett, attributes the increase in mental illness to the very high levels of stress in our community. "Post-traumatic stress disorder is an emerging Bahamian epidemic. The number of people who present themselves for treatment for mental disorders has more than doubled what it was 12 years ago," he said on a recent radio program.

Dr. Barrett also recognizes the ongoing stigma attached to mental illness in The Bahamas, adding that many are still of the mindset where there is tremendous stigma associated with mental and emotional disorders, so nobody really wants to go to the psychiatrist.

Sadly, however, the stigma attached to mental illness can have tragic consequences as we have recently seen in the Virginia Tech University incident in which a mentally ill student massacred 30 fellow students. Although college officials were aware he had mental problems, they failed to acknowledge them and follow up on his need for treatment and counseling.

People have a tendency to associate mental illness with violence, and this has also contributed to the stigma of mental illness. Perhaps the now outdated — but folksy — image of the mentally ill shackled to their beds has helped to perpetuate this association. Dr. Barrett, however, dispelled the myth about violence, when he said that violence is hardly ever associated with psychiatric illness.

Dr. Clarke likewise dismissed the question of violence often attributed to people living with schizophrenia.

"Those persons are usually too confused and too frightened to be violent. In fact you may well know someone with a mental illness and not realize it," he said.

In spite of education and exposure it seems that their is a continued fear, as well as a fascination with mental illness.

There is yet another factor. We are obsessed with being considered "normal", which may explain our fear and fascination with persons we consider "abnormal".

In her study,"They're Possessed? Cultural Views of Mental Illness", Samantha Shepherd wrote: "Our society has an insatiable appetite for real-life horror stories about rapists, serial killers, and pedophiles, and the media is happy to provide us with them. As a result, we tend to put everyone with a psychiatric problem under one label — crazy."

She suggested that perhaps we should look to the past to gain a healthier perspective on mental illness. "The ancient Greeks believed mental illness was curable, and they used religious rituals, diet, massage, and dance, among other therapies, to manage it. A lesson from them would help us all to have a little more compassion and a little less fear."

Excellent advice for Bahamians at a time when the staff and management of Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre are celebrating their special mission to promote healing, wholeness and rehabilitation for individuals and their families impacted by mental illness.

10/29/07