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WISH Responds to Recent Commentary on Mental Health in Antigua and Barbuda
November 3, 2024, St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda
“For lack of wisdom, my people perish” – Hosea 4:6. This powerful scripture speaks to the importance of seeking knowledge and understanding concerning human well-being. While religion and spirituality play vital roles in our society and personal lives, they should never be wielded as tools to dismiss or degrade scientific research and medical facts. As the verse suggests, true wisdom comes from embracing both spiritual insights and human understanding – including the vast body of research and evidence supporting mental health care.
Today, the Wadadli Initiative for Self-care and Healing (WISH) addresses recent commentary questioning the legitimacy of mental health concerns in our community. As a mental health advocacy organization in Antigua and Barbuda, we feel compelled to provide clarity and context to this important discussion.
“Mental health challenges are not a product of moral failure or lack of faith – they are legitimate medical conditions that affect one in four Caribbean citizens,” states WISH founder Chaneil Imhoff. “The World Health Organization reports that mental health conditions have increased by 25% since the pandemic, impacting people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and walks of life. Dismissing these challenges as merely spiritual issues does a grave disservice to our community and potentially prevents people from seeking life-saving help.”
Imhoff continues, “We’ve seen firsthand how untreated mental health conditions impact families, workplaces, and communities across our islands. The statistics are clear: 75% of mental health conditions develop before age 24, yet the average person waits 11 years before seeking help, largely due to stigma and misconceptions.”
WISH Content Creator Raisa Charles offers a balanced perspective on the intersection of faith and mental healthcare: “Religious freedom is a constitutional right and plays an important role in our society. People should do whatever helps them feel spiritually grounded and connected.
Thank you! The dismissive article which was published prior, used scripture to hide behind
– an excuse to ignore the needs of many. Just because you are Christian does not mean that you don’t go through crises in life that can be severely difficult to handle and which can have a negative impact on your emotional being. We are not just biological matter, we also exist as psychosocial beings and all aspect of a human must be in harmony to achieve the balance we refer to as “Health”. Without that balance of biological, social and psychological harmony, complete health os not achieved.