Ministry invests in mental health
THE Ministry of Health has allocated just about $30.5 million to psychiatric care in this current financial year.
This was revealed by Minister of Health, John Boyce, as he addressed the community at the beginning of the Zone Health Fair that was held in Church Village Green yesterday morning. The minister believes that it is their duty to structure and fund the mental health system, so as to deliver on their promise of effective interventions. He reported that their goal was to improve the infrastructure of the Psychiatric Hospital and offer a more therapeutic environment to its patients.
Another initiative that was established to aid persons in their mental health was the establishment of the National Mental Health Commission, which was given the task of planning and promoting mental health programmes dedicated to improving the status of the health of the population. In addition to advising the Ministry on critical issues relating to mental health, Boyce announced that the Commission also provides an avenue for stakeholders from various sectors to make their input on the way forward for mental health in the island.
The minister expressed that the Ministry of Health remained committed to the goal of excellence in patient care as they continue to heighten the awareness of mental health issues through a number of avenues, including the provision of public education and the delivery of quality health care.
He also noted that the complex nature of depression coupled with its interrelation with social, psychological and biological factors dictates that any approach to reducing its incidence and providing early diagnoses and prevention must be multi-disciplinary. He reported that the Ministry has a comprehensive strategy in place, which involves a holistic and co-ordinated approach to all programmes and services related to mental health at the primary, secondary and tertiary level.
He added that enhancing community-based mental health services has been a major focus of the Ministry as this will help to make it more convenient for those with mental health conditions to receive treatment and therapy near their homes. He also mentioned that they have also reinforced the mental health service in the polyclinic system as they now offer psychiatric out-patient sessions.