Mariam Sedney
Secretary of the sub Council of Ministers, Suriname
Title: Psychology in Suriname: An overview of the mental health care in Suriname
Biography
Biography: Mariam Sedney
Abstract
Suriname is delighted to participate in this International Conference for Psychology 2018 in Paris. We aim to give a glimpse of our country and culture from a Psychological perspective. We hope that after this presentation this global platform will have an understanding of the Mental Health Care in Suriname. In this presentation the emphasis will be on the most common mental health disorders that Surinamese citizens struggle with and the connection with environmental and cultural factors. Are there additional differences in the vulnerability and etiology of the disorders in Suriname due to cultural factors? In cooperation with the Minister of Health, Suriname Psychiatric Hospital, Mental Health Clinics (e.g Mole Mann Mental Health Clinic Netherlands, department Suriname) and the University, statistics will be presented about the estimated amount of mental health patients and the most common disorders in our country. There will be an overview about the discrepancy of supply and demand regarding mental health care. Is there access for every Surinamese citizen towards Psychological treatment? Is the demand for mental health care in Suriname more than estimated, because of the taboo and stereotypical culture? How can we break through this taboo culture and bring more mental health awareness and Psychological education to family, friends and acquaintances. We will also touch upon several suicide cases in Suriname and the relation with depression. Furthermore, some insights of the most common therapy forms at the Psychiatric Hospital and mental health clinics in Suriname will be presented, along with the statistics of the Global Assessment of Functioning at the end of several treatments.