GPH re-launches Mental Health Institute

-counselling and occupational therapy available

The Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) yesterday relaunched its psychiatric facility, offering both in-patient and out-patient services.

Built at the cost of $100 million, the Mental Health Institute has been presented by the Ministry of Health as one that will provide a higher standard of mental health service. The principle is to ensure that patients when experiencing mental trauma, can come and get the necessary treatment and after the episode has been managed they can then return to their respective homes and still have access to care closer to their home.

Head of the Department of Psychiatry at the GPH, Dr Bhiro Harry said “I’m thankful to the government for the change, even though before the facility was not as spacious, staff got their designated work done and they will now do better for they now have their personal space.” He said that the new facility has all the necessary rooms and the nurses now have an adequate injection room. Important rooms like the nursery room, specialist room, and pharmacy are all air-conditioned and comfortable.

Dr Harry told Stabroek News that all the necessary medications and therapy for patients are being provided free of cost.

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony stated, “One of the areas which has been neglected is mental health and all the trends in the world is showing that the global population

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony

is going to be severely affected, which portion of the population has been affected by various mental health illnesses, but in the coming years more people are going to be affected, unfortunately the investments in mental

Head of the Psychiatry Department at GPH, Dr Bhiro Harry health has been lukewarm and that has been a problem because we have a lot more patients but don’t have the