Burdened by decades of stigma, mental illness has become a kind of taboo subject- discussed only in whispers. But, mental health advocates are trying to get it into the mainstream - after all, though we might not know it, we are surrounded daily by the pathology of mental illness - from the inexplicably violent acts and brutal behavior we always report on - right down to the irrational behavior of public officials.
And the local organizer's of World Mental Health Day want to broaden the discussion about mental health - and they started that today at a ceremony. Courtney Weatherburne found out more:..
Dr. Wesley Quimbo, Psychiatrist, Mental Health Program
"The Schizophrenia is a disorder that is characterized by hallucination, disorganized behavior, delusions and one the patient have this hallucination they hear voices and sometimes you see them mumbling to themselves because they react into the hallucination."
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Schizophrenia is the focus of this year's world mental health day - observed today at the Welcome Resource Center.
And while Schizophrenia is not a word we hear often when we talk about mental illness in Belize, it is does affect a small percentage of the population and it.
Dr. Wesley Quimbo
"It is 1% of the general population and yes there are effective treatments that are given to the patient of Schizophrenia. We have new medications that are free that we give. We have different public health service that have the mental health service as well. We have good medications that are being given to the patient. Aside from that we have the counseling session that psychotherapy for that matter."
When discussing mental illness the term "stigma" inevitably surfaces. What are the mental health care providers doing to curb this negative reaction to persons living with schizophrenia?
Augustina Elijio, Deputy Director of Health Services
"We sensitize the public on a regular basis. We have our health education bureau that brings about information in pamphlet forms, in videos and those types of medium. We do have a mental health association that also address these mental health issues to help to remove the discrimination and the stigmatization that is there for these persons."
One of those persons is 45 year old Al Andrew Smith. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2009. His case would be categorized as mild, but it still has dramatically impacted his personal life.
Al Andrew Smith, Schizophrenic
"For me it was basically anger. I would have little fits of anger sometimes. I don't really hear no voices nor have hallucinations, but the main thing was coping with living with my family and dealing with them and learning to have more patience and try to be more attentive when they talk and we have to listen and talk back directly in a conscious way to make them understand what I am saying. Coming to know my diagnosis now, it would have helped me long before, in my relationship and my marriage because I didn't know also. But when they diagnose it then I became aware of why I am acting this way and why I don't have that much patience sometime and why do I get angry sometime."
But with treatment, he is able to live a normal life.
Al Andrew Smith, Schizophrenic
"You have to because then you have to like get out there and do something, meet people, have a girlfriend or boyfriend - have an active life where we meet people and I go out sometimes to the park and go places. So I have to be out there living amongst society and be a part of the society."
And that challenge for inclusion is one that many face in a society where mental illness is often overlooked.
World Mental Health Day was launched in 1992.
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