Why are there so many young people with mental illness?

Every year, we get an ugly reminder of the importance of mental health to the overall health and well-being of individuals. These reminders present themselves through psychopathic behaviours demonstrated by individuals. Unfortunately, our youths are succumbing to these mental health disorders. In 2016, a brilliant young man, a son of Garifuna descent, is alleged to have committed multiple heinous crimes. Now, as 2018 opens its doors, we are hearing of a young lady, once a star model, becoming a social menace.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Mental health, on the other hand, is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.

All of us are at risk for developing mental health disorders. None of us are immune. At some time in life we will be faced by the stresses of life. However, if we do not have support systems, mechanisms or individuals to help us to cope, we can easily break under these circumstances and start to display behaviours that are antisocial and aggressive and what are termed simply ‘crazy behaviour’ in the Vincentian context.

It is very important that we can recognize stress and find solutions to deal with stress. Some of us are good enough to resolve our stress by ourselves; some of us have supportive networks that we can turn to. However, some of us cannot cope and may need systems to support and guide us.

Our youths are not getting the type of support that they need. There is a complete breakdown in the community support systems that once existed. We have now moved away from being community oriented to becoming more individualistic, in order to maintain our “privacy”. The community support for young people is almost non-existent. Churches, socials clubs and organizations that once supported our young people are now abusing them and taking advantage of their vulnerable situation.

Secondly, the family structure has weakened so significantly that family support is also almost non-existent in some areas. There is a breakdown in the family structure and the role of the family has diminished so much that the type of family support required by some youths just doesn’t exist.

Thirdly, the formal systems, for example the school and health systems, have weakened so much that they provide little or no support to these troubled young people. Schools no longer go beyond academics and hold the hands of these children. Before, if you had a child from a bad community and from bad parents, you would depend on the school, the principal and the teachers to make the difference. This no longer exists.

The health system is also not mental health friendly. Mental health is a ‘by the side’ issue. Mental health is not prioritized and is highly stigmatized. There is the need for greater emphasis to be placed on community mental health. Mental health preventative services must be put in place, so that those at risk can be identified early and be taken care of.

We need to protect the health of our youths. Mental health disorders do not only affect the person that is affected, but places tremendous burden on families, communities and the country. All of us are at risk. Let us do something.

Dr Rosmond Adams, MD is a medical doctor and a public health specialist with training in bioethics and ethical issues in medicine, the life sciences and research. He is the head of Health Information, Communicable Disease and Emergency Response at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). He is also a member of the World Health Organization Global Coordination Mechanism on the Prevention and Control of NCDs.

(The views expressed here are not written on behalf of CARPHA nor the WHO).

You may contact him at adamsrosmond@gmail.com