Health trends

MENSANA observes World Mental Health Day

MENSANA marks World Mental Health Day with its annual fund-raiser on October 13. The fund-raiser is the Saturday Soup Day and public awareness event to be held at 21 Herb McKenley Drive (formerly Roosevelt Avenue), Kingston 6.

A week of events will also be held to raise public awareness about mental-health issues, as part of the national observance of World Mental Health Day on October 10.

This year's theme is 'Depression: A Global Crisis'.

People with depression and other mental illnesses do better when they have the care and support of friends and family. Many forget, however, that caregivers need support as well. That is where MENSANA, a mental-health support group formed in Jamaica in 1997, has been playing its greatest role. This support group comprises people who are affected by, caring for others or living with mental illnesses.

Proceeds of the Saturday Soup Day will help MENSANA to continue its work. Contact Dawn Marie Roper at 778-1336; dmarier70@yahoo.com; or Carol Narcisse, 430-4705, carol.narcisse@gmail.com

Source: MENSANA

Delays at the Bustamante Hospital for Children

The South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) wishes to advise the public that the Bustamante Hospital for Children has been experiencing a significant increase in its patient load which has resulted in extended delays.

"Patients are also experiencing delays in the Accident and Emergency and Pharmacy Departments," Anthony Wood, chief executive officer of the hospital, explained. "We would like to assure the public that the staff is making every effort to reduce the extended waiting times currently being experienced by our patients. We apologise for any inconveniences the delays may cause."

Wood said as per standard practice, all patients are being carefully assessed to determine the children who are eligible for discharge, and he urged parents to pick up their children in a timely manner after discharge. Parents are also being reminded to utilise their nearest health-care facilities for early medical intervention so as to reduce the onset of complications requiring hospitalisation.

The Bustamante Hospital for Children has a bed capacity of 283 and more than 12,000 patients are admitted to the hospital annually.

Source: South East Regional Health Authority