1. The Adaptation of a Culturally Relevant Arts-Based Mental Health Intervention for the People of Guyana
Christopher L. Morucci
Many forms of educational outreach programs today are directed towards disease prevention and physical health. However, there is a troubling disparity with programs that exist to focus specifically on mental health. Mental health care and systemic intervention are an increasing necessity as the World Health Organization has declared depression the leading cause of disability worldwide. Though not the only precipitating factor, depression and other forms of mental disorder are often seen in cases of completed suicide. The South American country Guyana is of specific interest in the implementation of mental health interventions as it currently faces the highest suicide rates in the world. This proposal examines culturally relevant arts-based interventions that have been previously created and used to address HIV and AIDS in African populations. These interventions were chosen due to the specific cultural relevance of using the arts as a medium for change in South America, something that has been previously expressed through the development Theatre of the Oppressed. Adapting these models, an arts-based intervention has been developed to focus on educating members of the Guyana population on mental health and potential practices for increasing well-being. As it is a cross-cultural proposal, historical and cultural information about Guyana is reviewed to provide context for the intervention. Approaching this project with cultural humility, steps to collaborate and use this program in Guyana are of primary consideration. The main objectives of the project are to: (1) increase mental health literacy throughout Guyana, (2) encourage positive practices related to mental health and general well-being, and (3) reduce the rate of suicide amongst the Guyanese population.
Guyana has the highest suicide rate in the world: four times higher than the global average.
Suicide is estimated to be the third-leading cause of death among those 15 to 44 years of age, accounting for 13% of all deaths.
Neuropsychiatric disorders contribute to the burden of disease, measured in Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), more than other diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined.
Unipolar depression alone has been identified as the fifth greatest contributor to disease burden in Guyana.
There are only 3 Psychiatrists in the public sector in Guyana, two of which are located in the capital city of Georgetown.
The use of Kalajatha (Folk Theatre) has been used to convey the important messages on malaria control and prevention to the rural Indian communities.
Participatory film and theatre have been used to change social, cultural, and structural concepts regarding HIV testing, treatment, and care in Malawi.
Theatre has been used as a supplement to educational programs in order to raise awareness of issues regarding AIDS in Uganda on multiple occasions.
The model of Image Theatre was used in psychiatric hospitals and developed into the field of theatre therapy.
Abstract
Guyana’s Mental Health Problem
The Global Efficacy of Arts Based Educational Outreach Programs
Using the Arts as an Intervention in Guyana
Proposal
Many social programs in Latin America have traditions of using methods of active participation in order to engage marginalized groups in the transformation of their societies.
Integration of drama students and professionals with Guyanese community members living with mental disorder to collaborate and create a production based off of their real life experiences.
Performances take place in surrounding rural communities and include testimonials of people living with mental disorder, community discussions, and workshops to train locals in drama in order to allow groups to develop their own productions.
Participatory theater grew in Latin America out of both popular education and liberation theology spearheaded by Paulo Freire and Augusto Boal.
As time goes on switching the roles of original Guyanese performers to facilitators and the removal of drama students and professionals. Along with the development of larger performance festivals to expand reach.
Compared to Latin America the United States’ research and practice of participation based theatre programs to provoke community dialogue remains marginal.
Works Cited
Brigell, M. (2010). Participatory theater and the prevention of gender-based violence. University of Chicago – SSA Advocates’ Forum.
Frank, M. (1996). Theatre in the service of health education: Case studies from Uganda. New Theatre Quarterly, 12(46), doi: /S X
Ghosh, S. K., Patil, R. R., Tiwari, S., & Dash, A. P. (2006). A community-based health education programme for bio-environmental control of malaria through folk theatre (kalajatha) in rural India. Malaria Journal, 5(1), 123. doi: /
Make Art/Stop AIDS. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2017, from
Scutti, S. (2014, October 14). Why Does Guyana Have The Highest Suicide Rate In The World? Retrieved April 15, 2017, from
WHO and Ministry of Health. (2008). WHO-AIMS Report on Mental Health System in Guyana. Georgetown, Guyana.