The advisory council for Cayman’s new in-patient mental health treatment centre has met for the first time. A government minister described the meeting as a step towards the destigmatisation of psychiatric problems and the reintegration of patients into society.
Katherine Ebanks-Wilks said the convening of the Mental Health Advisory Council for the 54-bed Poinciana Rehabilitation Centre in East End was a “significant step forward” in boosting the country’s health services.
Ebanks-Wilks, the cabinet minister responsible for health, said the meeting was “the beginning of something deeply important, not just for Poinciana, but for the entire Cayman Islands community”.
“With the launch of the council, we are formalising what has always been our shared vision: that mental health must be accountable, compassionate and centred on the needs of our people,” she said.
“This journey is not going to be easy because oversight is a responsibility that will demand, rigour, integrity and courage.
“But it is also a privilege. Every recommendation made or standard upheld will have a direct and lasting impact on someone’s recovery and our society’s capacity to embrace and reintegrate those who are often pushed to the margins.”
She was speaking after the nine-strong committee, headed by veteran psychiatrist Dr. Marc Lockhart, held its inaugural meeting last week.
Tamara Ebanks, the chief officer for the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability, said, “Mental health touches every family in the Cayman Islands and this council gives our people a stronger voice in shaping the support and services we need.”
The government added that the council will meet regularly to help “guide the facility’s development and ensure it remains aligned with best practices in psychiatric rehabilitation”.
A spokeswoman said, “Beyond clinical excellence, the council will focus on engaging the community through education, information and participatory opportunities, fostering a shared responsibility in supporting mental health recovery.”
The centre opened at the end of last year, after years of delay, partly caused by the disruption from COVID-19.
Construction on the centre started in 2019 and appeared to be largely complete by summer 2023.
Despite several announcements of dates of when it would be ready, the opening was put off due to repeated delays in getting the required certificate of occupancy.
The controversy was among the reasons for resignation highlighted by four government ministers who quit the previous administration.
Those ministers included Minister Ebanks-Wilks and André Ebanks, then deputy premier, who went on to lead The Caymanian Community Party and become the islands’ premier.
People who needed in-patient care before the centre opened were mostly sent for treatment in Jamaica.
Others, who had to be confined for their own safety or the safety of other people, were put into the prison system.
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