CARIMAC Times 2016: The JREAM Edition Journalists Reviving Awareness of what Matters | Page 84

hallucination, delusion, disorganised behaviour, disorganised speech, and other symptoms. “The best person to diagnose the condition is a psychiatrist, but this can only be done after a medical doctor has completed a medical assessment with blood investigation to rule out straight-cut medical conditions, then a referral is made. [sic]” Rose insists that if a practitioner is not very competent on the intricacies of the illness, he or she can misdiagnose. “A person might come to you and it seems like they have depression. They aren’t talking, they don’t have any interest in any pleasurable activity; lack of energy ... These are classical signs and symptoms of depression, but can also be symptoms of schizophrenia, so you have to do an in-depth history-taking.” She further outlined that, although individuals with schizophrenia may exhibit violent tendencies, it is not prevalent, but commonly occurs when the condition is untreated. “Sometimes the violence is as a result of the delusion or the hallucinations. The voices will tell them to do things or sometimes because their thoughts are so skewed, they think that somebody is trying to hurt them when that is not the case. They may lash out at somebody.” According to the mental health officer, there are different types of schizophrenia and levels of severity, but the condition is typically treated with antipsychotic medication and psychotherapy. “Depending on what is identified, you might have behavioural modification like cognitive therapy. For social issues, you might have a social worker coming in. Then you might have occupational therapy where persons need to learn skills. Some persons might need to be referred to social agencies to get some assistance.” Illness and vulnerabilities Elaine Clarke, 54, was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 23. Like Irving, she has battled with stigma and discrimination, which she said has prevented her from securing permanent employment. She shared with CARIMAC Times that, although she received assistance through the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), on various days she is unable to purchase food. PATH is a conditional cash transfer (CCT) programme funded by the Government of Jamaica and the World Bank. It is facilitated by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and is aimed at delivering benefits through bimonthly cash grants to the most needy and vulnerable in the society. “Many nights mi go ah mi bed without food because the likkle money [from PATH] mi get every other month cyaan do. So mi haffi go ah road every day go beg,” she said. Clarke said she is repeatedly refused employment because of her illness. “Nobody nuh want fi employ mi tru dem know seh mi sick. Mi used to sell newspaper fi wan lady and she rob mi and stop mi from work. She seh mi cyaan manage it, and she same one used to seh mi sell di paper dem good,” she said. 80