News
Department of Behavioural Health Services Mental Health Awareness Month 2025: Reframing Mental Health and Strengthening Our Community
PRESS RELEASE
FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands 2nd May 2025 – As Mental Health Awareness Month approaches, the Department of Behavioural Health Services invites all Turks and Caicos Islanders to engage in meaningful activities throughout May to foster a healthier, more connected community. This year, we proudly embrace the theme “Community”, highlighting the importance of our collective strength, how we support one another and show up when someone is struggling.
Hon. Kyle Knowles, Minister of Health & Human Services, recently spoke about the importance of community, and how we, as a nation, must address mental health as part of our everyday lives. As the Minister shared, “Mental health is not just about a diagnosis or a clinic visit, it is about everyday life. Whether it is the parent trying to stay strong for their family, the employee feeling overwhelmed at work, or the student dealing with self-doubt, mental health is something that affects us all.”
Throughout this month, we want to emphasize that mental health is not just about what happens in clinics; it is about us, about building a community where people know they aren’t alone, and where help is accessible when needed.
How Can You Get Involved?
The Department has planned several exciting and impactful events to help create more awareness, offer support, and foster real connections. We are excited to invite you to actively participate in the following:
- Psychological First Aid Training (May 1st– 31st)
In partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), we are offering an online Psychological First Aid course throughout May. This course will equip you with the tools needed to support others in distress, whether at home, in the workplace, or in your community. We encourage everyone to take part in this training. By doing so, we can ensure that help is always within reach for those who need it.
- Wear Green Fridays (Every Friday in May)
Every Friday throughout May, we ask you to wear green as part of our campaign to raise awareness and show solidarity for mental health. Wearing green is a simple but powerful way to send a message of support, understanding, and hope. We invite you to share your photos on social media using the hashtag #ShiftingMindsTCI and join us in making mental health part of our daily conversation.
- Morning Pause and Panel Discussions
We are hosting morning pause and panel discussions events across the islands, where we will tackle important mental health topics and give the community a chance to engage directly with experts in the field. These sessions are a safe space for everyone to learn, share, and reflect on mental health in a real and supportive environment.
Panel discussion topics include:
- May 7th(Providenciales): Mental Health and Working in Paradise at Fortis TCI
- May 14th(North Caicos): Mental Health Across the Ages at the Kew Community Center
- May 20th(South Caicos): Understanding Anxiety and Treatment at the South Caicos Community Center
- May 21st(Grand Turk): Understanding Anxiety and Treatment at the Grand Turk Community Center
- School Engagement and Outreach
We will also be engaging with local schools to spread the message of mental health and provide resources for both students and staff. Through these engagements, we hope to create a foundation for early education around mental well-being, helping to normalize conversations from a young age.
Shifting Minds TCI: Reframing Mental Health
This month also highlights our upcoming campaign Shifting Minds TCI: Reframing Mental Health. We are committed to reframing the way we view and talk about mental health in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The campaign is a call to action to stop the silence and start real conversations about mental health, breaking down stigma, and building a culture of support. Our mission is simple: to make mental health a regular part of our conversations, so no one ever feels alone.
A Message from Hon. Kyle Knowles, Minister of Health & Human Services
Minister Knowles since his appointment has emphasized the importance of community, especially when it comes to mental health. He continues to advocate for stronger resources and support systems in the Turks and Caicos Islands. He said, “We are placing real value on mental well-being, supporting programs, training, and outreach that bring people together and build that sense of community care that has always been part of who we are.”
This is a time for us to come together as a community, to shift how we think and talk about mental health, and to take action that will make a lasting impact.
Your Role in the Change
Minister Knowles also reminds us that we all have a role to play in shifting mental health conversations: “Reach out to someone. Not because it’s Mental Health Month, but because we all need each other more than we sometimes say. Whether through a simple message, a listening ear, or offering a helping hand, each small gesture counts.
Let’s make May more than just a month of awareness. Let’s make it the start of lasting change, a commitment to a healthier, more connected community, where mental well-being is a priority, not just during the tough times, but every day.”
For more information, please contact the Department of Behavioural Health Services. Zone 1 (Grand Turk/South Caicos, Salt Cay) 649338 3613 Zone 2 (Providenciales, North & middles Caicos) 649 338 3616. Also, be sure to visit our website www.gov.tc/dmhsd and follow our social media accounts www.facebook.com/TCIDBHS and @TCIDBHS on Instagram.
The Caribbean tourism deal first reported as a possibility on Tuesday is now a signed agreement. Royal Caribbean Group plans to pay
approximately US$3 billion for a 50% stake in Sandals and Beaches Resorts, putting the value of the business at about US$6 billion. The purchase is expected to close in early 2027, subject to approvals.
Founded in Jamaica by the late Gordon “Butch” Stewart in 1981, the resort business has a presence across nine Caribbean destinations, including Jamaica, The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. Sandals has described its workforce as nearly 20,000 people, most of them Caribbean nationals.
“My father, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, founded Sandals Resorts with the belief that a company built in the Caribbean could stand on the world stage alongside the most respected names in hospitality,” said Adam Stewart in the announcement carried by PR Newswire. He will remain executive chairman, while the Stewart family retains a stake. The companies say existing reservations and resort operations will continue as usual.
News
Indian Association of Turks and Caicos Islands Empowers Local Students Through Back-to-School Backpack & Supplies Drive
PROVIDENCIALE, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS — The Indian Association of Turks and Caicos Islands (IATCI) is proud to
announce the successful completion of its 2026 Back-to-School Supplies Initiative, distributing essential backpacks and educational materials to local students and families across the community.
With the new academic year underway, this annual drive was designed to alleviate the financial burden on families while equipping local youth with the necessary tools for academic success.
Education is an investment in a better generation and a brighter future. We are grateful to all our generous donors and supporters whose contributions helped make this initiative possible.
The initiative’s success was made possible through the collaboration and contributions of local corporate partners and community members. IATCI extends its sincere appreciation to the following sponsors for their support and commitment:
• Mayaa Ltd, Ayavue Enterprises, Provo Café, Sunny Foods, Gold Smith, Charlie’s, Kishco / Kostco, Citrusbuy Ltd.
Through partnerships like these, IATCI continues its commitment to fostering community growth, supporting educational development, and making a lasting positive impact across the Turks and Caicos Islands.
About the Indian Association of Turks and Caicos Islands (IATCI)
The Indian Association of Turks and Caicos Islands is a non-profit community organization dedicated to cultural enrichment, community service, and supporting educational and social initiatives throughout the islands.
Indian Association of Turks and Caicos Islands (IATCI)
“Empowering Pharmacists for Healthier Futures”
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands — September 23, 2026; TCI Hospital joined healthcare organisations around the world in celebrating World Pharmacy Day from September 21-25, 2026, recognising the vital contribution pharmacists and pharmacy technicians make to patient safety, quality care and stronger healthcare systems.
Under the theme “Empowering Pharmacists for Healthier Futures,” this year’s observance highlighted the importance of enabling pharmacy
professionals to use their knowledge, skills and expertise to their fullest potential in improving health outcomes and supporting patients throughout their healthcare journey.
As part of World Pharmacy Week, September 19–25, TCI Hospital celebrated its Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians while engaging patients, students and the wider community in activities focused on medication safety, pharmacy careers and the expanding role of pharmacy professionals in healthcare.
More Than Preparing Medications
Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are integral members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team at TCI Hospital. While pharmacy is often associated with dispensing and preparing medicines, the work of pharmacy professionals extends far beyond the pharmacy counter.
The hospital’s pharmacy team works collaboratively with physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals to support the safe and appropriate use of medications throughout the patient journey. Their work includes medication preparation and management, medication reconciliation and review, patient education, and processes designed to identify and reduce medication-related risks.
Their specialised knowledge is particularly important in clinical areas such as the Neonatal Unit, Oncology and Dialysis services, where medication management requires precision, careful calculation, specialised preparation and close attention to individual patient needs.
For TCI Hospital, World Pharmacy Day therefore provides an opportunity not only to celebrate pharmacy professionals, but also to increase public understanding of their important contribution to safe, effective and patient-centred care.
Inspiring the Next Generation
An important part of TCI Hospital’s 2026 observance was engaging young people and introducing them to the diverse opportunities
available within the pharmacy profession.
Students from Maranatha Academy in Providenciales and HJ Robinson High School in Grand Turk, participated in an exposition designed to provide insight into the work of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and their contribution to patient care and medication safety.
Students explored how medications moved through the healthcare system, the safeguards used to help prevent medication errors, and the importance of medication reconciliation in identifying and resolving potential medication-related concerns.
The sessions also featured practical demonstrations of selected tools and processes used by pharmacy professionals, giving students an opportunity to experience aspects of the profession beyond the traditional image of dispensing medicines.
Through this engagement, TCI Hospital hoped to encourage more young people in the Turks and Caicos Islands to consider careers in pharmacy and the wider healthcare sector.
Taking Pharmacy Education into The Community
TCI Hospital extended the conversation beyond the hospital through a special TCI Hospital House Call Talk Show episode featuring pharmacy professionals and a patient.
The programme explored the role of pharmacists from both the healthcare professional and patient perspectives, including how pharmacy professionals contributed to safe medication use and how patients could become active partners in their own medication safety.
The discussion encouraged patients to know the medications they were taking, provide healthcare professionals with accurate and up-to-date information about their medicines, follow medication instructions carefully, and ask questions whenever they were uncertain about their treatment.
The programme also highlighted pharmacy as a rewarding healthcare career and encouraged young people to explore educational and professional opportunities in the field.
Medication Safety is a Shared Responsibility
World Pharmacy Day also provides an important reminder that medication safety is a shared responsibility involving healthcare organisations, healthcare professionals, patients and families.
Patients can contribute to safer care by maintaining an accurate list of their medications, including prescription and non-prescription
medicines; informing healthcare professionals about medications they are taking; following instructions for safe medication use; and asking questions when they do not understand why or how a medicine should be taken.
Healthcare organisations and professionals, in turn, have a responsibility to maintain systems that support safe medication practices and enable pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to contribute their expertise across the continuum of care.
TCI Hospital remains committed to strengthening medication safety, supporting its pharmacy workforce, educating patients and promoting effective collaboration across the multidisciplinary healthcare team.
Celebrating the People Behind Safe Medication Use
Chief Executive Officer of TCI Hospital, Dr Denise Braithwaite-Tennant, said World Pharmacy Day is an important opportunity to recognise the expertise and dedication of the hospital’s pharmacy professionals.
| “Our pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are essential members of the multidisciplinary team and make an invaluable contribution to safe, high-quality patient care every day. Their role extends far beyond preparing and dispensing medications. They bring specialised knowledge, precision and clinical expertise to medication management and work alongside our healthcare teams to reduce risks and support the best possible outcomes for our patients.
This year’s theme also reminds us that empowering pharmacists means creating opportunities for them to contribute their expertise across the patient journey. We are proud of our pharmacy team and sincerely thank them for their professionalism, dedication and commitment to helping build healthier futures for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.” Dr Denise Braithwaite-Tennant |
Chief of Allied Services, Eleanor Hall, highlighted the importance of recognising pharmacy as an integral clinical service and supporting the continued professional development of the pharmacy workforce.
| “Pharmacy is an essential component of safe and effective healthcare delivery. Our pharmacy professionals work collaboratively across disciplines and services, bringing expertise that supports clinical decision-making, medication safety and patient education. Their contribution is especially important as healthcare becomes increasingly complex and patients require more individualised approaches to medication management.
Empowering our pharmacy workforce also means investing in professional development, encouraging innovation and ensuring that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians have opportunities to contribute their knowledge throughout the healthcare system. I am extremely pleased that this year’s activities also extend into our schools and community, helping people better understand the profession while inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals.” Eleanor Hall |
Pharmacy Manager Kennita Myers said the theme reflects both the responsibility carried by pharmacy professionals and the opportunities available to further strengthen their contribution to patient care.
| “Every medication we prepare, review or manage represents a patient who is depending on us to get it right. Whether we are supporting neonatal care, oncology, dialysis or other hospital services, accuracy, vigilance and patient safety remain at the centre of everything we do.
Our pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are also educators and advocates for safe medication use. We want our patients to understand their medicines and feel confident asking questions about their treatment. We are equally passionate about introducing young people to pharmacy and showing them the many ways, they can build meaningful careers while contributing to the health of their community. World Pharmacists Day gives us an opportunity to celebrate our profession, share our knowledge and inspire the next generation.” Kennita Myers |
Thank You to Our Pharmacy Professionals
Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital extends its sincere appreciation to its pharmacists and pharmacy technicians for their professionalism, expertise and commitment to patient safety.
Whether preparing specialised medications, supporting clinical teams, educating patients, reviewing medication therapy or strengthening medication-safety processes, pharmacy professionals play an important role at every stage of the patient journey.
Their work embodies the message of World Pharmacy Day 2026: “Empowering Pharmacists for Healthier Futures.”
To all of our Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians, thank you for helping to keep our patients safe, supporting our healthcare teams and contributing every day to healthier futures for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
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