Government establishes Poinciana Mental Health Advisory Council

Government has approved the establishment of the Poinciana Mental Health Advisory Council to help enhance governance, accountability and community responsiveness at the residential rehabilitation facility in East End.

Appointed by Cabinet, the council “will serve as a crucial link between the day-to-day operations of the facility and the evolving mental health needs of the Cayman Islands community”, a government press release on Thursday stated.

It added that the council “will provide oversight across clinical, operational and governance functions, ensuring that ethical standards, evidence-based practices and proper diligence are consistently upheld”.

The council’s composition will remain flexible, allowing it to adapt to emerging needs and provide well-informed guidance. Members will include the programme manager, clinical director, a family representative, a programme staff representative and individuals from key community agencies and Mental Health Services.

“The Cayman Islands Government is fully committed to the success of the Poinciana Rehabilitation Centre and to ensuring that it delivers meaningful, high-quality care to those who need it most. Improving mental health outcomes across the Cayman Islands is a top national priority, and this new Advisory Council will play an integral role in achieving that goal,” the release noted.

Minister for Health Katherine Ebanks-Wilks commented on the importance of the council.

“The creation of the Poinciana Mental Health Advisory Council represents a vital step forward in advancing mental health care in the Cayman Islands,” she said. “By embedding accountability, clinical excellence and community engagement into the governance structure, we are building a foundation that truly supports recovery and long-term wellbeing.”

Poinciana Rehabilitation Centre’s consultant psychiatrist and programme manager, Dr. Marc Lockhart, who has previously chaired the Mental Health Commission, will chair the council.

“After 24 years of contributing to the development of a comprehensive mental health system, I am ready, with dedicated assistance of a committed team, to enhance the Poinciana Rehabilitation Centre,” he said. “We will fulfil its mandate to create a structured, trauma-informed residential facility providing comprehensive, dignified care for the mentally ill, prioritising recovery, reintegration and lasting stability.”

Chief officer of the Ministry of Health Tamara Ebanks echoed these sentiments, stating, “The Advisory Council will ensure that the voices of clients, families, clinical staff and the wider community are integral to the decision-making process. This is how we create a service that is not only clinically robust but also compassionate and culturally responsive.”

The primary purpose of the Poinciana Rehabilitation Centre is to provide a safe, therapeutic and recovery-oriented environment for individuals with moderate to severe mental health conditions who require structured residential care, the release said. The facility is designed to support stabilisation, rehabilitation and ultimately reintegration into the community.