It's is late Sunday night but I thought before another week gets under way I would jot a few thoughts about a recent event: Last Friday I attended a conference in Birmingham entitled 'Improving Mental Health in the Developing Countries - what role can you play?' It was organised by PRIME a Christian Healthcare organisation (PRIME Home).
It was an interesting day though also shocking, to say the least, when I learnt that some developing countries do not have any medical experts in Psychiatry at all (i.e. a Psychiatrist)! The thought of others suffering suicidal thoughts or obsessive anxieties without medical intervention makes me shudder and helps me to realise a fresh how fortunate we are in this country. Although there still is a lot of taboo over seeking psychiatric help, lets thank God to-day that we do at least have the opportunity to seek help from these experts.
I am not sure what role I can play to improve the mental health of others in developing countries at the moment, but the conference did whet my appetite to find out more as I am challenged to consider what Jesus said: ' whatever you do not do for the least of these, you do not do for me.' (Matt 25:45)
