Guyana has launched its first electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) service at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), in partnership with the country’s Ministry of Health and Northwell Health’s Center for Global Health and department of psychiatry. The initiative aims to address treatment-resistant mental health conditions within the nation.
The new ECT service is the result of over three years of planning, training, and collaboration between clinical leaders in Guyana and Northwell Health in New York. As part of the partnership, Northwell donated two ECT machines and provided training for more than ten psychiatric and anesthesia specialists from GPHC on administering the therapy safely and effectively.
ECT is a medical treatment used primarily for severe depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and catatonia. Although it has a long-standing record as an effective intervention, it continues to face stigma. The program at GPHC seeks to provide modern, closely monitored care for patients who have not responded to medication or psychotherapy.
Local officials described this launch as phase one of a broader plan that could eventually extend ECT access beyond Georgetown to other regional hospitals.
Bhiro Harry, MD, head of the psychiatry department at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, said: “The introduction of ECT services at GPHC marks a significant step forward in our ongoing commitment to improving access to comprehensive mental health care in Guyana. This would not have been possible without the support of Northwell Health, whose collaboration has strengthened our capacity to offer safe, evidence-based treatment to some of our most vulnerable patients. We are truly grateful for this partnership and the positive impact it is having on the lives of those we serve.”
John Q. Young, MD, MPP, PhD, senior vice president and chair of behavioral health at Northwell Health added: “This launch signals a cultural shift. By confronting stigma and investing in evidence-based treatments, Guyana is building a stronger mental health system that can serve as a model for the Caribbean. Launching this service in Guyana means offering new hope to families who have struggled for years to find relief.”
