Topic: mental health
Man who groomed and raped girls was ‘left for dead’ as baby
A man who groomed and raped two 13-year-old girls and sent sexual messages to an 11-year-old should serve his sentence in a hospital because of psychiatric problems arising from being left for dead as a baby by his birth mother, his defence lawyer has said.
Cayman confronts rising strain on mental health system
Cayman’s mental health system is under growing strain as the population climbs and clinical needs become more complex.
AI threatens the mental health of children, says psychiatrist
Parents should carefully monitor their children's use of artificial intelligence, a Cayman psychiatrist has warned.
Mental health advisory council meets for first time
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.
Psychiatrist backs claims of mental health ‘crisis’ at Northward prison
A top psychiatrist has backed claims of a mental health crisis in prisons as almost a third of male inmates receive psychiatric treatment.
Thirty percent of Northward prisoners experiencing mental health problems
Almost a third of inmates at Northward prison are seeing a psychiatrist and taking prescription drugs for mental health problems, human rights campaigners have revealed.
Summer Cs Campaign focuses on youth mental health
The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), together with various government ministries, departments, and non-profit stakeholders, have announced a programme of events aimed at promoting positive youth mental health across the Cayman Islands during the summer holidays.
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.
Bitten multiple times: Paralysed resident in care home ordeal
An investigation is under way at a government care facility after a resident was bitten on two separate occasions by another occupant.
Cayman’s parenting crisis: a silent struggle behind closed doors
Rachel (not her real name) was barely more than a child herself when she became a mother. By 20, the generational Caymanian had two...
Mental health matters
SIGNS THAT YOU MIGHT NEED HELP
• Feelings of anxiety and sadness
• Hopelessness
• Difficulty sleeping
• Changes in appetite
• Difficulty making decisions or staying focused
• Fatigue,...
Media urged to consider its role in de-stigmatising mental health
Rhonda Kelly, mother of Addison Kelly who died by suicide at age 16 in 2022, vividly recalls the experience of reading headlines about her daughter, and the wave of social media commentary on her mental health that followed in the days after her passing.
Experts warn action needed to tackle youth mental health crisis
Suicide risk and mental health problems in the young are at a "crisis" point and not enough is being done to tackle the problem, Cayman experts have said.
2025 Year in review: Reform, risk and response in Cayman health
In 2025, Cayman’s health system turned toward structural reform, prevention and access, as chronic disease, rising mental health demand and global health risks dominated the headlines.
Poinciana mental health facility to open next week
After years of delays, an official opening ceremony for the long-awaited Poinciana mental health facility in East End is set to be held next week.
Man who escaped mental health unit now in police custody
A former athlete, detained at the George Town Hospital after being found not guilty ‘by reason of insanity’ in an attempted murder case, has escaped, police said Tuesday.
Man gets community service for stalking and harassing ex-wife
A Summary Court magistrate has sentenced a man with mental health issues who was convicted of stalking and harassing his ex-wife to 270 hours of community service and also fined him $300 for operating a generator that later burned and damaged a property in George Town.
$10 million budget overrun on long-delayed mental health facility
The unfinished mental health care facility in East End is already almost $10 million over budget with government remaining silent on when it will be fit for occupancy.
Handling Hurricane Ivan trauma
Mental Health experts have urged residents embrace self-care as the increase publication of images and videos marking the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Ivan's devastating passage could be triggering.
$400,000 bill to staff unfinished mental health centre
Government spent more than $400,000 on staff for the yet-to-be-opened long-term mental health facility in East End in the first seven months of this year.
Timeline: The 9-year saga of Cayman’s mental health facility
After a decade of planning and almost five years of construction it is still not clear when the Poinciana Rehabilitation Centre, as it is now known, will finally open to patients.
Cayman woman takes on Seven Summits to promote mental health
Anoush Pal is on a mission to conquer the Seven Summits, the tallest mountain peak on each continent, in an effort to promote mental health.
Mental Health Commission urges community to advocate for change
While the community has the benefit of access to a wide variety of public and private mental resources, some residents still face challenges.
Help is a phone call away with launch of Cayman Kids Helpline
With the launch of a new helpline serving adolescents, both young people and adults will have access to free, confidential mental health resources.
Academy, Elite teams heal together after ‘traumatic’ shooting
In the aftermath of Sunday's shooting at Ed Bush Stadium, members of Academy SC and Elite SC gathered Monday night in support and solidarity following what has been an "incredibly traumatic experience".
Youth mental health forum focuses on ‘building bridges’
The Alex Panton Foundation hosted its seventh annual Youth Mental Health Symposium on 17 Feb., focusing on 'building bridges'.
Hundreds shine light on mental health in annual Addison Kelly Butterfly 5K
It was a bittersweet moment for the Kelly family on Saturday morning as they crossed the finish line together at the annual walk held...
Need to open mental health facility
The Cayman Compass ‘gimme, gimme story’ of Quincy Brown, a brilliant comedian from the Brac, is must-reading for all Caymanians.
I remember Quincy from well...
10 solutions to homelessness and mental health challenges in Cayman
The Compass has compiled 10 possible solutions to issues facing people in crisis in Cayman, including homelessness and its underlying causes, ranging from mental health and drug challenges to broken families and a lack of community support.
Managing holiday stress
Christmas is a delightful time of the year for many, but it also can create mental health challenges for those who struggle to cope with loss of every kind from relationships to relatives.
Jonny Gibson to run 50-miles for mental health strugglers
Jonny Gibson is looking to give back to those suffering from mental health issues by pacing himself for 50.5 miles from Starfish Point in North Side to Papagallo in West Bay this Sunday, 17 Dec.
Employees need to address mental health issues at work
As part of World Mental Health Day on Tuesday, a special conference was held that focused on adult mental health care in the workplace, and how to navigate challenges in today's fast-paced corporate environment.
Professionals urge community to prioritise mental health
Local medical professionals are urging the Cayman community to prioritise their mental health as people around the globe mark World Mental Health Day on Tuesday.
New hope for mentally ill prisoners as archaic law set to be revised
A change to the law is planned to create new options for the treatment, monitoring and eventual release of people detained indefinitely in prison after being deemed ‘criminally insane’.
Head of new mental health facility appointed, opening delayed again
The former head of Jamaica's Bellevue Hospital, the largest psychiatric institution in the Caribbean, has been appointed as director of the new long-term mental health facility in East End, the opening of which has been delayed by another three months.
Governor: Mental health cases are taken seriously
Governor Jane Owen says cases which involve mental health issues are taken seriously by her office. The governor's involvement in such cases came to the fore as part of the Cayman Compass' recent investigative series, examining the case of Travis Webb.
Lockhart: New approach needed to Cayman’s mental health challenges
Mental health crisis teams could be embedded with police services in a novel new way of tackling a growing challenge in the Cayman Islands, according to psychiatrist Dr Marc Lockhart.
Lawyer warns over indefinite detention of mentally ill prisoners
Mentally ill prisoners - accused but not convicted of any crime - face the possibility of being locked up at Northward prison indefinitely under current Cayman Islands law, a leading local attorney has warned.
Report recommends ‘transformational change’ in prison system
Cayman’s prisons have become ‘indeterminate holding areas’ for inmates with serious mental health issues, according to a consultant’s report which recommended ‘transformational change’ across the system.
Compass investigation: The strange case of Travis Webb
The Cayman Compass takes a deep dive into the case of a former athlete detained indefinitely at George Town Hospital after being found 'not guilty by reason of insanity' in a gruesome attempted murder case that has exposed gaping holes in the mental health care system.
Editorial: One mental health case exposes flawed system
It is rare that a single human story so thoroughly exposes the failings of a system as comprehensively as that of Travis Webb.
Alarming mental health data prompts calls for reform
A sharp increase in mental illness and suicide attempts is prompting new calls for action to help combat a growing health crisis in the Cayman Islands.
Addison Kelly lost her fight with mental illness, now her family is battling to...
As the anniversary of her death approaches, the family of teenager Addison Kelly are honouring her memory by telling her story and supporting mental health resources on island.
Take legal action over lack of mental health care
With reference to your "‘Frustrated’ Dr. Marc Lockhart leaves Mental Health Commission" post:
Along with my previous letter to the editor, in your May 13,...
HSA: Call 911 or visit A&E if you’re having suicidal thoughts during holidays
Cayman's Health Services Authority has issued a statement reminding the public that anyone having suicidal thoughts or considering deliberate self-harm over the holidays to dial 911 or go immediately to the Accident and Emergency Department at the Cayman Islands Hospital.
Amended laws aim to address mental health crisis
An amendment to the Mental Health Act legislation will now make it easier for mentally afflicted persons to be detained and treated.
New mental health laws gazetted
Two pieces of legislation aimed at bolstering Cayman's mental health services have been gazetted.
Cricket legend brings fight against racism to Cayman
Former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding spoke passionately about the fight to end racism in sport and in society at an event in Grand Cayman.
Lifting the weight of bullying
A total 592 students across seven schools attended the Cayman Islands Powerlifting Organisation’s Be Strong Youth Rally inside the John Gray Gymnasium on Thursday, 6 Oct., morning.
Cayman gymnast Raegan Rutty opens up on mental health struggles
Cayman’s first Olympic gymnast, Raegan Rutty, on a recent visit home for spring break, took time from her holiday to speak with several schools about the successes and struggles she has experienced through gymnastics.
Model: ‘I had to leave Cayman to be myself’
Striding down a city street in killer heels or bouncing from Gucci campaign shoots in Portugal to catwalk events in London, Kayla Watler has the life that many young girls dream of. But success didn’t come without struggle for the 22-year-old model.
Cayman’s children struggling amid pandemic
Being a teenager isn’t easy. Now, added into the mix are the stresses and strains of a two-year global pandemic, with the related isolation due to lockdowns and quarantines, increased anxiety over academic performance while homeschooling, and heightened tensions at home as parents struggle to make ends meet amid job losses and reduced
work hours.
Doctors warn of “big increase” in child mental health issues since COVID
Paediatricians in Cayman are reporting a significant increase in child mental health issues over the last two years.
Teens to speak to politicians on challenges facing Cayman’s youth
Teenagers who highlighted some of the the myriad struggles facing Cayman's young people at the Alex Panton Foundation Youth Mental Health symposium over the weekend soon will be bringing their message to local politicians.
Mental health support and resources available throughout Cayman
The Alex Panton Foundation is reminding the local community that there are resources and support networks available for children, teens and young adults dealing with mental health concerns.
Work from home trend comes with perks and pain
Staff in Cayman, like in the rest of the world, have come to grips with working from home over the past two years, as the pandemic closed offices and workplaces across the globe. One side-effect of this enforced teleworking has been the impact on the mental and physical health of employees.
Turner urges focus on mental health
Health and Wellness Minister Sabrina Turner has urged the community to pay close attention to their mental health as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in mental health cases.
A mother’s mission: The journey to open a mental health group home
Jackie Neil was no stranger to mental health issues touching her wider family, but the mother-of-two never expected that these challenges would eventually reach her inner circle. However she used that experience to push for Cayman's first mental health group home.
Students struggle with suicidal thoughts, self-harm
About one in six students in Year 9 to Year 12 have seriously considered killing themselves, data from the latest National Drug Council Student Drug Use survey has shown.
Health minister opens up about painful childhood
Health Minister Dwayne Seymour recently opened up about his childhood and the challenges he faced growing up with a father struggling with mental health issues.
Decriminalising suicide is just a first step
In December, the Cayman Islands government decriminalised suicide in the islands. The move has been hailed as a victory that helps remove the stigma often associated with mental illness. But campaigners say it is just the beginning of the legal and mindset changes required to ensure people with serious mental health conditions get the help they need.
COVID increases anxiety, holiday blues
Local psychologists have noted an increase in mental health challenges and expect it to continue over the holiday period as travel remains limited due to health protocols.
Protect the mental health of our children
I am writing this letter to raise my significant concerns on the impact of COVID-19 on the long-term mental health and overall well-being of children.
Using music as a tool to cope with stress
Now, more than ever, the global population is looking for ways to remain calm in the face of a crisis. Music could make a difference.
Youth Ambassadors discuss mental health
Students from the Alex Panton Foundation Youth Ambassador Programme last week organised a series of workshops and a play that focussed on suicide, depression, anxiety and bullying.
Government inks deal to build mental-health facility
Government officials recently signed on the dotted line with multiple contractors to build a $15 million long-term residential mental-health facility in East End.
Recovery Month offers help, hope
A run/walk is being held on 29 Sept. as part of National Recovery Month, sponsored every September by the US-based Substance Abuse and Mental health Services Administration.
Contractors chosen for mental health facility
Ministry of Health officials say contractors have been picked for the delayed long-term mental health facility in East End, and construction is expected to begin in October.
Cayman’s youth receive gift of ‘mental wealth’
A 40th birthday wish to help young people in Cayman suffering from mental health issues has led to an ongoing series of donations to The Wellness Centre.
EDITORIAL – Another delay on road to mental health facility
As all should well know after years of discussion, such a facility would fill a critical need for our population. So it is doubly frustrating to learn government has once again gone back to the drawing board in re-issuing a request for bids.
Mental health facility faces more delays
Plans for a $1-million mental health facility in East End face further delays with government re-opening the bidding process for construction of the new development.
