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Some Caribbean countries have some of the highest suicide rates in the world, according to Dr. Rhonda Sealey-Thomas, Assistant Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
She was speaking at the opening of the Caribbean Public Health Agency’s (CARPHA) 69th Health Research Conference. This year’s theme is “Mental Health: The Hidden Pandemic.” Dr. Sealey-Thomas said that many mental health problems go untreated because of stigma, lack of awareness, and limited access to care in local communities.
She said most public health spending in the region still goes to psychiatric hospitals instead of services based in the community, which could offer better and easier access to care.
Still, she praised Caribbean countries for making progress. Some, like The Bahamas and Guyana, have updated their mental health laws to focus more on human rights and care for the individual. Others, like Barbados, Belize, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, are in the process of doing the same.
There are also efforts to shift mental health services away from large hospitals and into primary health care settings. By the end of 2025, nearly every Caribbean country is expected to use the World Health Organization’s mhGAP plan to support this move. This would allow people to get mental health treatment and support closer to home.
Some countries are also working hard to prevent suicide. Guyana has stopped treating suicide attempts as a crime and is improving how it tracks suicide data. Suriname is studying the problem more closely to find better solutions. Trinidad and Tobago, once one of the top three countries in the region for suicides, has cut suicide deaths through education campaigns and prevention programs.
Several countries, including Barbados and Trinidad, have trained journalists to report on suicide more responsibly. Crisis helplines have also been set up to help people in need. For example, Lifeline Barbados is a 24-hour helpline offering anonymous support and connecting people to care.
Dr. Sealey-Thomas said more research is needed to improve mental health care in the Caribbean. She said science and research help save lives and improve health.
Around 400 people, including researchers and decision-makers, are attending the CARPHA conference from May 7 to 9. There will be 87 talks and 86 poster sessions showing the work of students, experts, and health workers across the Caribbean.
Source: Barbados GIS.
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