DEAR EDITOR, the Island Sun newspaper yesterday, Wednesday, May 2, 2018, featured a very important article dealing with mental health issues in the Solomon Islands.

The article, entitled ‘Mental Health needs Advocacy’ summarized the findings of a recent workshop held in Auki where Dr Rex Maukera from the National Psychiatric Unit at the Kilu’u Hospital had talked about mental health and stressed the importance of disseminating information on the serious health problem to health practitioners.

Interestingly, quoting the Sun’s article, Dr Maukera said to those attending the workshop, “One area of importance is the understanding that a healthy life does not simply mean the absence of disease or physical illness.

“Health also associates with our thinking which means if you are not thinking right or always thinking negative it also affects your health.

“We talk about major mental disorders and minor mental disorders, for example, anxiety disorder, stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. “

Twenty years ago as the local Police Commissioner I expressed my concerns about the way in which the use of marijuana and the consumption of kwaso (local brew) was affecting the thinking of many young people and warned of the long-term mental health concerns of those young people.

I went so far as to visit a Western Australian Drug Advisory Centre where I obtained a supply of informative literature on the use of marijuana and then had the health warnings re-published locally.

Referring to what Dr Maukera had to say about anxiety disorders, stress and post-traumatic stress disorders, have we stopped to consider how those conditions relating to mental health might now be attributed to current and future rising sea levels in our remote coastal regions?

I concur with Dr Maukera on the need to bring the issue of mental health into the open, for training and for the wider development of reforms and partnerships to emphasise the importance of greater community ownership in community-based mental health care.

It has to be borne in mind that in the Solomon Islands the distribution of skilled health workers and resources is severely hampered by geographical imbalances and financial restraints and moving to local and accessible mental health care makes sense.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

DEAR EDITOR, as a youth, it is concerning to read news from the Island Sun local news dated January 4, 2018 in regards to teenagers being arrested for illegal brewing of homebrew on Ugi island, Makira province.

As stated by the provincial police commander, it is an unusual activity since police have received reports on arresting of mainly male offenders.

Now that young girls are seen to be involved in such illegal activities, it becomes an issue of concern for the police, parents, leaders and elders in the communities.

The provincial police commander strongly appeal to elders and leaders in the communities to think seriously about this matter as young girls are now seen to involve in such illegal activities.

This is an issue that requires the cooperation of parents, community and the law enforcers.

We might want to question why the world today is slowing changing in the inch of everyday activities compared to the past decades and so.

Some of the reasons as to why teenagers involving in illegal activities are because of family issues, lack of discipline from parents, school drop outs, peer pressure and so on.

However, there is uncertainty as to point fingers on who to be blamed when such issues involving teenagers arise.

Seeing teenagers involving in illegal activities is concerning as it gives the next generation of teenagers the idea that you only follow law when you are being monitored.

On the other hand, individual’s health should be considered as the effects of frequent homebrew consumption and other drugs may result in causing health risks.

I believe by working together and supporting the police in providing information in regards to criminal activities can help stop teenagers to involve in such illegal activities.

Moreover, it is ethically right to be whistle blowers whenever there are unlawful doings because people who participate in criminal activities deserve to face the law and its consequences.

With these, I agree that we should think seriously about this matter.

Morally parents should be role models to their children as discipline and teaching starts in the home. They have a responsibility to discipline and teach their children on what is right and wrong.

Furthermore, it is important that elders and leaders in local communities work together with the police by prohibiting the involvement of teenagers in criminal activities as community laws and to monitor those who do not abide the law.

By Monica Rehomora

(s11114148)