Hey Cainstah, this thing is true….I was just at the dentist Tuesday and she was telling me that so many ppl coming in with cracked fillings, chipped teeth etc.

yes, big Taboo to talk about my low thyroid, macular degeneration, glaucoma etc because no other Guyanese ppl don’t ever have any of those or high blood pressure, diabetes etc

Two in my family had cracked tooth, it suddenly happened. Pains, like unbelievable, it was all the way down to the root of the tooth.

It happens to mostly those 50 and over. Biting hard foods such bones on curried duck, fried channa, pop corn kernels,  etc....

WHY IS IT THAT GUYANESE PEOPLE do not admit to mental health issues and HAVE THE HARDEST TIME reaching out for help in times of crisis???

maybe this needs its own topic

Ron started a thread dealing with dis same same topic. Tell me what he talkin bout after you try an' read it.

@Wildflower posted:

WHY IS IT THAT GUYANESE PEOPLE do not admit to mental health issues and HAVE THE HARDEST TIME reaching out for help in times of crisis???

maybe this needs its own topic

It is ‘taboo’ esp in our Guyanese society

Mention the word  ‘mental’ n immediately  they think…

‘crazy’, ‘mad’, mad-house etc

Many who suffer from depression/anxiety  don’t talk abt it for the FEAR of being JUDGED ..so there is that ‘shame’ factor

another reason they suffer silently is because they feel no one will understand ..family members (esp) r in denial..

EDUCATION is essential/important/necessary for both who suffer from (any form of mental illness) n those who r close to them ie family n friends, co-worjers/employers

More (a lot more)  discussion is needed as well

Mental illness has many forms ranging from mild to severe

eg Fears/Phobias, depression, anxiety/panic attacks, OCD, ADHD/autism, PTSD, bi-polar, Schizophrenia , eating disorders etc

I once heard a dad say this (whn he was told that his teenaged daughter suffered from depression..’) ”wht is there for her to be depressed about??? .she has everything she needs.  She just needs to stop thinking negatively n have positive THOUGHTS  instead”

Then he started to list all the things she should be grateful for, comparing to others who had less..

Clearly immense LACK of  KNOWLEDGE/info

Educate! EDUCATE.. let us  Talk about it..more DISCUSSION!!!

n esp now with Covid-19..there is a greater need for all of  us  to talk openly about these disorders.

Remove or at least REDUCE the STIGMA!!

PS

I know of a young mother whose only kid was diagnosed with autism n she was feeling so ashamed to tell her family..very sad.  Her husband even told her it is karma (as they were having problems.)

At my workplace , we regularly have guest speakers/webinars n many times they speak on mental health.  We also have a toll-free help-line for employees n family members 24/7  ..

We need more employers to get on board!

We need to address ‘the elephant in the room’

@Wildflower posted:

WHY IS IT THAT GUYANESE PEOPLE do not admit to mental health issues and HAVE THE HARDEST TIME reaching out for help in times of crisis???

maybe this needs its own topic

Not only Guyanese ..