Bridgetown, Barbados, 17 July 2025 (PAHO) - The Ministry of Health and Wellness Barbados, supported by PAHO/WHO, Let’s Unpack It, and Healthy Caribbean Youth, hosted its first “Mind Yuh Mind” Community Conversation, marking a significant step towards transforming mental health care in the country.
The new mental health legislation is grounded in the principle that mental health is a basic human right. The Community Conversation prioritizes a shift from inpatient care to community-based, person-centered mental health services. The session brought together policymakers, health professionals, advocates, and persons with lived experience to discuss the Act’s key provisions, including supported decision-making, advance directives, and procedural accommodations, with a strong emphasis on reducing stigma and promoting human dignity.
Participants highlighted the importance of public education and advocacy to normalize mental health discussions in families, workplaces, and schools. The Act aligns with WHO standards and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, reinforcing the Government of Barbados’ commitment to a rights-based, community care model that ensures accessible, compassionate, and effective mental health support for all.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Hon. Davidson Ishmael, shared that the government has allocated BDS $236 million for mental health, with $38 million dedicated to the Psychiatric Hospital, demonstrating the country’s commitment to resourcing mental health reform while advancing a community-based model. Training initiatives, including the preparation of 120 nurses for community-based care and the launch of a suicide prevention programme and school resilience programme, were also discussed as practical steps underway.
The conversation further explored the role of the Mental Health Commission, which will oversee standards, collect data, and guide implementation, ensuring that the Act moves from policy to practice. Stakeholders also discussed challenges, including the need for continued budget advocacy, first responder training, leveraging technology to improve accessibility for the deaf community, and exploring the reintroduction of halfway houses to support community reintegration.
Speaker stories, including those of individuals managing bipolar disorder and advocating for mental health rights, underscored the importance of lived experiences in shaping policy and programming.
This “Mind Yuh Mind” conversation forms part of a series of dialogues designed to keep communities informed and engaged as Barbados advances mental health reform. PAHO/WHO will continue to support the Ministry of Health and Wellness in these efforts, as strengthening community-based mental health services remains central to reducing the burden of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders in Barbados and the Caribbean region.
The next conversation will take place at Princess Margaret Secondary School on the 30th of July 2025; it will focus on youth mental health and the role of schools in promoting resilience.
