Psychology Professor Advocates for Proactive Community-Based Mental Health Programs to Address Violence Issues

A psychology professor is recommending proactive community-based mental health programmes to tackle violence.

Professor Donna-Maria Maynard contended during a panel discussion on Thursday that violence often stems from accumulated frustrations and emotional issues.

Speaking on a panel during a discussion at St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, Professor Maynard said: “Many people carry burdens stemming from adverse childhood experiences, which can build into anger and aggression over time, sometimes escalating into violent behaviour.

“By increasing access to mental health care, we can help individuals manage their emotions more effectively and reduce the likelihood of violence. Community-based mental health programmes can provide vital support and coping strategies, allowing individuals to find healthier outlets for their struggles. We need to be proactive rather than reactive,” the psychologist stated.

The Barbados Society of Psychologists held the panel discussion in keeping with its Psychology Week under the theme Promoting Mental Health for Community Peace and Wellness.

Challenges

Professor Maynard said like many other societies, Barbados was facing challenges that range from rising violence and aggression, “particularly among our youth, to the effects of economic disparity”.

“With the gap between the rich and the poor widening, the strain on individuals and communities continues to intensify,” she added.

Maynard also said that parents needed to know their children and children wanted to be part of the family.

“Recognising the impact of mental health on community safety is key. Untreated issues like depression, anxiety, and anger management problems can fuel violent behaviour. Unfortunately, limited funding and under-use of mental health services perpetuate a cycle of unmet needs,” she added.

President of the Business and Professional Women’s Club Marlene Hewitt said the focus should be directed at communities, an idea which received support from Minister of State in the Attorney General’s Office with responsibility for crime prevention, Corey Lane, psychologist Sean Pilgrim and counsellor with the Barbados Youth ADVANCE Corps, Monique James.

“Why haven’t the psychologists come into the community and volunteered? We are volunteers,” Hewitt enquired.

James applauded the “give back” programme at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in which graduates volunteer their time to community services.

“Let us take our studies into the community,” she added, while suggesting this was not being done.

Lane said there was a collective approach of ministries and agencies involved in mental health with a focus on action at the community and education levels and that the ministry was collating all the recommendations and plans on addressing crime.

“I am hoping that by the end of the year we have a document,” he said, adding it would include collating recommendations and research from the various ministries to form the Barbados National Crime Development Plan.

While emphasising “action” as the way to go, Lane added: that “it will be a marathon. It will take time. I am yet to see a lot of the solutions.”

He said Government was committed to scaling up mental health programmes. ( HH)