Antigua Develops Mental Health Policy

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Health News

Wednesday, 06 June 2012 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St John's - The Ministry of Health and Clarevue Psychiatric Hospital have taken a proactive stance to address the problems and challenges posed by mental health disorder by embarking on a mental health policy project.

This was disclosed at the opening of the Mental Health Policy and Plan Development Workshop yesterday, and the project is being undertaken with the assistance of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).

The workshop is expected to run from June 5 to 8 and will assist policy makers, services planners and other mental health stakeholders in the formulation and implementation of coherent, comprehensive and effective mental health policy, plans, legislation and services.

Superintendent of Clarevue Psychiatric Hospital Clarence Pilgrim said that participants will have the opportunity to review the main component of a mental health policy, draft a mental health policy and develop the mental health and psychological component for inclusion into the national health sector disaster plan.

The first phase of the project, he added, involves the development of a package on mental health policy and services.

PAHO Country Specialist Edward Emmanuel said that Antigua & Barbuda’s Mental Treatment Ordinance dates back October 1957, and that there is an urgent need to transform mental health care in Antigua & Barbuda.       

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Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Edson Joseph declared the workshop open and said that the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health need to be removed from our society.

Too often, he said, people who are mentally challenged are being neglected and abused by their families and friends because of their disorder. He promised that this practice will stop, as the Ministry of Health will be putting measures in place to end it. 

Also present at the workshop was PAHO Mental Health Regional Advisor Mrs. Devora Kestel, along with members of the Antigua & Barbuda Fire Services, Fiennes Institute, the Royal Police Force of Antigua & Barbuda, Mount St John’s Medical Centre, Substance Abuse Prevention Division, National Office of Disaster Services, Community Mental Health /Antigua & Barbuda Mental Health Association, Citizens Welfare Division, and Antigua & Barbuda Employers Federation.

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