News
THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL HEALTH SERVICES CONDEMNS RECORDING OF PERSONS WHO ARE IN CRISIS
FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March 2024– The Department of Behavioral Health Services is appealing to the general public to refrain from recording and circulating videos of persons who may appear to be experiencing a mental health crisis. Anyone can experience a mental health crisis at some point in their life. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Persons may struggle with very common conditions such as Anxiety
“There are a lot of misunderstandings about various mental health conditions and how they may manifest. In addition, there are a number of negative perceptions and misconceptions that society exhibits towards people with mental health problems. However, just as we would show care and concern for someone diagnosed with Cancer, or any other physical illness, in the same way, we need to be as caring and helpful to persons with mental illnesses”– stated Director of the Department of Behavioral Health Services, Dr. Alicia Malcolm.
The Department is urging the public to call the following numbers if you see someone who appears to be experiencing a mental health crisis:
338-5473/338-3616: Providenciales, North or Middle Caicos
338-3614/338-3612: Grand Turk, South Caicos, Salt Cay
338-6301: Nights and Weekends
If someone is putting themselves or someone else in immediate, serious risk of harm, call 911.
The Department of Behavioral Health services is here to help and provides the following services which are free and confidential:
Location of above services:
o Sam Harvey Building, Down Town, Providenciales,
o Primary Health Care Department, Cheshire Hall Medical Center, Providenciales
o Department of Behavioural Health, Duncombe Alley, Grand Turk
Let’s all do our part in creating a community where people with mental health problems feel respected, supported and cared for.
For additional information, please visit the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/ or the Department of Behavioral Health Services Faceebook on https://www.facebook.com/TCIDBHS/.