Health
Dear Editor: It’s time to break the stigma associated with mental health disorders in TCI
#TurksandCaicos, February 25, 2022 – It’s time to break the stigma associated with mental health disorders in TCI. Often times we tend to shy away from discussing the subject of mental illness, because it’s uncomfortable for some.
This subject is near and dear to my heart, not to mention I have a son and a sibling who struggles with mental illness.
I’m inclined to believe I’m not alone when it comes to the need for more discussion around this subject.
In all likelihood, mental illness is more prevalent among us then we want to believe and have probably touched a number of families within our communities in some form or fashion.
According to ADAA(Anxiety and Depression Association of America), nearly 450 million people worldwide are currently living with a mental illness, yet nearly two thirds of people with a known mental illness never seek or get
treatment.
With the negative stigma around mental health in TCI, now imagine if a comprehensive study was done. The findings could be quite surprising especially with the rate per capita in such a small population.
For far to long, we have treated mental illness as taboo, largely in part due to shame and lack of proper understanding. Often time referring to such persons as crazy or lunatics.
Sadly, what it has done is pushed persons further underground, causing their illness to go undiagnosed for a longer period of time and not properly treated.
What’s also important to understand is the fact that in many cases, this illness may not be so obvious on the surface.
It’s not just limited to some of the homeless persons we may occasionally encounter on the streets. One can appear to be functioning fine and have it all together, but the reality is, they could be struggling internally.
There are various forms of mental disorders, such as severe depression, ADD, uncontrollable anxiety, phobias, certain individuals who are on the Autism Spectrum Disorder etc.
Studies have also shown that persons who suffer from such disorders, if untreated, it could also drive them to certain addictions, bing eating or suicidal thoughts.
It could also cause those individuals to lash out in different ways or resort to other cynical behaviors.
As outlined in the PNP manifesto under their commitment to Safety, Security and Justice, it’s high time our government finally acknowledged the need for more public awareness around this subject.
Henceforth, there is a lot of work that will need to be done to catch up with the rest of the world in terms of providing the necessary resources and mental health awareness programs.
With that being said, there are several things that will need to take place..starting with a comprehensive assessment of identifying those individuals. This will need to be a multifaceted approach, to include those on the frontline, better coordination of the departments involved with treatment, the prison system and social welfare programs.
These are all important steps we will have to take and confront, if we are serious about addressing mental illness.
For example, based on our population, do we have an adequate number of mental health counselors? How readily available are they in times of need?
Are we going into public schools and educating students on the availability of such programs? This could help to debunk the stigma of being called crazy or a lunatic.
The world as we know it is changing at a rapid pace and so is our lives.
As a result, we find ourselves devoting less and less time to internalize and deal with our emotions.
We have to look beyond our homes, go behind prison walls, in our schools, churches and on the streets to help identify and find ways to deal with these issues.
How many of our young men are locked behind bars because of undiagnosed and untreated mental illness? Are there adequate treatment facilities available to properly assist them or are they in the general prison population?
It’s imperative that we begin prioritizing mental health resources that address the underlying reasons for cynical behaviors.
Case in point: Over the years, I believe there are many students who have been identified with behavioral issues, are we taking a deeper dive or creating mandates around what types of disciplinary responses are appropriate when they act up?
In order for those students to get the attention that’s needed, educators will need instructional models that allow them to spend less time lecturing and more time in one on one discussions.
Albeit, there are lots of moving pieces when it comes to mental health, we must first start with recognizing and destigmatization of the basic diagnosis.
What is even more important to come to grips with in respect to our prison population, is the fact most of them are not serving life sentences. They will eventually be released into society with little help or monitoring.
Now what? if their diagnosis goes untreated, they will become a danger to themselves and to society as a whole.
Let’s start with overcoming this stigma of mental illness to avoid it from being repeated by the next generation. Therefore, the time to act is now!
Ed Forbes,
Concerned citizen of Grand Turk
Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
Turks and Caicos, September 6, 2025 – COVID-19 fears in the Turks and Caicos Islands that once had residents on edge are now giving way to a sense of relief. The Ministry of Health and Human Services reports a dramatic reversal: from dozens of new cases in July to zero cases and zero hospitalizations today.
Between August 17 and 23, 2025, officials confirmed no new cases, no hospitalizations, and no new deaths. Just two recoveries were recorded, bringing the national recovery tally to 6,866. The total confirmed cases since 2020 stand at 6,922, with deaths unchanged at 41. Health officials say August has been relatively quiet overall, with 19 new cases and recoveries recorded for the month — a fraction of what the islands faced just weeks earlier.
The contrast could not be sharper. The most concerning bulletin came in mid-July, when the Ministry reported 54 new cases in a single
week. Ten were fresh positives, while the other 44 came from a backlog of April samples. At that time, two new hospitalizations were recorded, and the islands mourned one additional COVID-related death, bringing the total to 41. It was a sobering reminder that the virus was still circulating, pushing recoveries to 6,845 and raising the cumulative case count to 6,910. The July spike stirred fear among residents and renewed calls for vigilance, as community spread and delayed lab results painted a worrying picture.
Fast forward to late August, and the numbers tell a very different story. Not only are new cases negligible, but the hospitals are reporting no COVID-19 patients at all. Officials say testing continues across a wide range of categories, and the Ministry urges the public to stay cautious: wash hands, wear masks in crowded spaces, protect the vulnerable, and get vaccinated. But the tone now is one of optimism.
Since the pandemic began in 2020, Turks and Caicos has recorded nearly 7,000 cases in total, with 6,866 recoveries and 41 deaths. The islands’ small population means every case has felt significant, and surges like July’s were especially unsettling. But today’s figures suggest the country has reached a new stage: COVID-19 is no longer the disruptive force it was. The Ministry credits continued public vigilance and the accessibility of free testing and vaccines at government clinics. While the numbers are cause for celebration, health leaders are careful not to declare the fight over. The Ministry’s latest bulletin reminds residents to maintain hygienic practices, follow self-isolation guidelines if infected, and ensure vaccinations are up to date.
The pandemic may not be entirely behind the Turks and Caicos, but compared to the frightening figures of July, the near-zero landscape of August offers a powerful sign of hope.
The Ministry released the bulletin on September 2, confirming that for the week of August 17–23, no new cases, hospitalizations, or deaths were recorded — a sharp contrast to the surge just weeks earlier.
Health
Turks and Caicos Islands Health Delegation Completes Strategic Visits to Florida and Cayman Islands to Advance Health Sector Reform and Strengthen Treatment Abroad Programme
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 22 August 2025 — A high-level delegation from the Ministry of Health and Human Services (MOHHS) has successfully concluded strategic working visits to Florida and the Cayman Islands from August 5–13, 2025. The mission aimed to strengthen the Treatment Abroad Programme, explore innovative health system models, and advance the Turks and Caicos Islands’ health sector reform agenda through strategic regional partnerships.
Delegation Members:
- Hon. Kyle Knowles – Minister of Health and Human Services
MoHHS Team with Health City Executive Management Team
- Mrs. Desiree Lewis – Permanent Secretary, Health and Human Services
- Mr. Lynrod Brooks – Director, Health Policy and Planning
- Ms. Florinda Talbot – Contract Performance Manager
- Mrs. Romaine Missick-Smith – CEO, Health Regulations Authority
- Ms. Jasmine Malcolm – Executive Administrator, MOHHS
Minister of Health and Human Services, Hon. Kyle Knowles, highlighted the significance of these engagements:
“These visits were not ceremonial; they were strategic, focused, and impactful. In Florida, we reinforced partnerships with leading healthcare providers to ensure TCI patients referred overseas receive the highest standards of clinical care and patient support. In the Cayman Islands, our mission was two-fold: to study the operations of the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority as a model to guide the establishment of our own Health Services Authority, and to strengthen ties with Cayman-based treatment partners, where many of our patients are referred under the Treatment Abroad Programme. Both visits underscored that small island states share many health challenges, and that collaboration, innovation, and adapting best practices to our local context are essential to achieving better health outcomes for our people.”
Florida – Strengthening the Treatment Abroad Programme
MoHHS Team with Cayman Minsterial officials
During the period August 5–9, the delegation visited Broward Medical Center, University of Miami Health System, Cleveland Clinic, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, and the International Reinsurance Managers Network. They also toured REVA Air Ambulance Services to review medical evacuation operations and patient transfer management. Discussions centered on patient care pathways, specialized services in ophthalmology, cardiology, oncology, and pediatrics, family-centered care models, advanced telemedicine for pre- and post-treatment consultations, and reinsurance strategies for high-cost overseas cases. Key outcomes include agreements to expand telehealth consultations, develop a standardized referral package to reduce delays, explore reinsurance arrangements to safeguard public health budgets, and establish specialized pediatric transfer protocols.
Cayman Islands – Health Sector Reform and Treatment Abroad Partnerships
From August 10–13, the delegation engaged with senior executives at Health City Cayman Islands, including Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil (Clinical Director), Shomari Scott (Chief Business Development Officer), Rebecca Brooks (Head of Marketing and Sales), and Ingrid Harris (Sales and Marketing). The team toured two hospital facilities and held in-depth discussions with Lizzette Yearwood, Chief Executive Officer along with leadership staff of the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority
The focus was two-fold:
- Health Sector Reform – Examining governance, financial management, and operational structures of the Cayman Islands HSA model
MoHHS Team with CEO and senior official Cayman HSA
to inform TCI’s development of its own Health Services Authority.
- Treatment Abroad Strengthening – Reviewing current referral arrangements with Cayman healthcare partners to enhance patient care coordination and improve treatment pathways for TCI patients referred to Cayman.
The delegation also met with Honourable Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Minister for Health, Environment, Sustainability, and Honourable G. Wayne Panton, Parliamentary Secretary for Health. The team concluded with a meeting with Acting Premier Hon. Gary B. Rutty and Cabinet members, reaffirming the shared commitment to improving healthcare access and outcomes through regional collaboration.
Next Steps
The Ministry will incorporate lessons learned from these visits into ongoing health reform planning, ensuring that the proposed Health Services Authority is tailored to TCI’s needs while reflecting regional best practices. Efforts will continue to ensure that the Treatment Abroad Programme delivers efficient, sustainable, and patient-centered care.
