A revised national mental health policy has been drafted. It is still in the consultation phase but it’s about time, when you consider that last mental health policy was drafted in the 1960’s. The Pan American Health Organization along with the Mental Health Association are leading the effort and today they met with relevant stakeholders to discuss the mental health policy and a substance abuse policy. Coordinator of Mental Health Services Eleanor Bennett told us more.
Eleanor Bennett, Coordinator – Mental Health Services
“There are some very outdated language. For example words like imbeciles and idiots are mentioned in that policy referring to people with mental disorders. So we are trying to modernize this act where we would give respect and dignity to people with mental illness as well as to make sure that they have the best care possible.
Our mental health services have changed; we no longer rely on institutions and a lot of countries in the region no longer rely on isntituins as you might be aware. We don’t have a mental hospital anymore such as Rockview and a lot of our services are community based and focused and definitely we would need a policy, a legislation that reflects that.
We have a mix of people here from Health, from Social Services, from Education, the Police, you have people from the Judiciary, nurses and doctors and it’s a very extensive group of people we have here.”
Keith Swift,
“How close is the policy to being finalized?”
Eleanor Bennett,
“It is a ways off, we are still in the consultation stages. This is yet another consultation for both of the documents and the consultants are receiving comments and they are expected to go back to the drawing board and include those comments that were made here today. So it is a little ways off but it is a definitely a big step, it is a very important step taken here today.”
Estimates are that as much as 10% of the population suffers some form of mental illness.
