More Money, Extended Services & Support for Mental Health approved at TCI Cabinet

By Deandrea Hamilton & Dana Malcolm

Editorial Staff

#TurksandCaicos, July 25, 2022 – The Mental Health and Substance Dependence Department of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government TCIG has been approved for more financial resources and now, added to the areas of support under the National Health Insurance Plan are psychiatric care and medication for individuals clinically diagnosed as in need of mental health treatment.

The approvals came in the July 8th Cabinet meeting and have the potential to radically impact, for the better, the well-being of those in the islands struggling with mental health issues.

The approvals follow a tragic and heart breaking incident in June where a young man, Garrick Tucker, died in a car accident after his mother repeatedly warned that her son was acting erratically and sought help from the department of Health and Human Services and the police but did not receive it.

The Government says the extra money for the Mental Health Department will be reallocated from the Primary Health Care Department.  They say this will allow an increase in mental health support across the islands.  The increase is much needed as several calls have come from Islanders this year alone in regards to suspected mentally ill people around them who need help.  The government did not however indicate whether this boost to the Department will be permanent.

In addition to the extra money the TCIG has approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health and the National Health Insurance Board to cover the costs of psychiatric medications for persons with mental health issues across the TCI.  The decision will reduce the cost of psychiatric medications making them more accessible to residents on the islands.

These upgrades to the mental health services on the islands come as the government puts the finishing touches on its own mental health clinic to be located in Grand Turk.  The facility is almost completely staffed.

Currently mentally ill individuals who need rehabilitation or are criminally incarcerated are sent to either Jamaica or the UK.

Jamell Robinson, Minister of Health indicated during a press conference in June that with the construction of the mental health facility “we would be able to bring home many of our residents treated overseas.”

The new facility is slated to be up and running by the end of the year.