“Working Together to Prevent Suicide”

This week Belize joins the international community in raising importance of mental health. World Mental Health Day will be observed on Thursday under the theme “Working Together to Prevent Suicide”. During this week, several activities have been planned to educate and raise awareness of mental health issues. Leading the charge is the Mental Health Welcome Resource Center under the coordination of Joyce Ellis. According to Ellis, there has been an increase among male mental health patients; however, hope for re-integration into society is alive.

Joyce Ellis

Joyce Ellis, Coordinator, Mental Health Welcome Resource Center

“We have success stories where we have integrated persons with mental illness back into society. They are working and they compliance with medication and that is great. Besides that, when it comes to the stigma we want to reach the family first because if we don’t sensitize the family then sometimes the family gives that spinoff that they don’t mess with him because he is “crazy”. That is where people tend know who is mentally challenged because the family tend not to be bothered. We are not blaming the family because it is very difficult to deal with someone with mental illness. What we have here at the center is like a support. The minute you have someone who suffer from mental illness they have done assessment they are compliance with the medication. The center is like a daycare for them. It is a drop in- they come during the day and then the evening they can go back home.”