St. George’s, Grenada, September 2026 (PAHO/WHO) – Grenada is taking important steps toward transforming its mental health system through the implementation of the WHO QualityRights initiative, reinforcing the country’s commitment to ensuring that mental health services are person-centred, recovery-oriented and grounded in human rights.
The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Religious Affairs, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), recently conducted a WHO QualityRights training workshop involving mental health professionals and key stakeholders from across the country. The activity forms part of Grenada’s broader efforts to modernize mental health services and strengthen community-based approaches to care.
WHO QualityRights supports countries in moving beyond a purely clinical model of care towards one that empowers individuals, respects autonomy, promotes social inclusion and safeguards the rights of persons living with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities.
Mrs. Naomi Jeremiah, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mental Health, underscored Grenada’s commitment to this transformation.
“Grenada is committed to building a mental health system that respects the rights, dignity and aspirations of every individual. The QualityRights initiative provides us with a powerful framework to guide this transformation. By strengthening the capacity of our health workforce and promoting recovery-oriented care, we are creating opportunities for people living with mental health conditions to achieve better health outcomes and participate fully in family and community life,” she said.
Dr. Eva Jané Llopis, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries, commended Grenada for investing in the capacity of its health workforce and advancing a rights-based approach to mental health care.
“Mental health services must not only be accessible; they must also protect and promote the dignity, rights and recovery of every individual. Grenada’s commitment to implementing the WHO QualityRights approach is an important step towards creating a more responsive and compassionate mental health system that better meets the needs of individuals, families and communities,” Dr. Jané Llopis said.
The workshop combined online and face-to-face learning, providing participants with practical tools and strategies to integrate human rights principles into everyday mental health practice. Discussions addressed recovery, legal capacity, supported decision-making, reducing coercion and discrimination, and strengthening partnerships with persons with lived experience.
A key focus was the cultural and organizational change required within mental health services. Participants explored how services can better support recovery, community participation and social inclusion while ensuring that people receiving care are active partners in decisions affecting their lives.
The training also strengthened collaboration among health professionals, policymakers, service users and advocates, recognizing that sustainable mental health reform requires engagement across sectors and the meaningful inclusion of persons with lived experience.
For Grenada, the initiative contributes to a longer-term vision of strengthening mental health governance, improving the quality of services and supporting the transition towards community-based care. Knowledge and skills gained through the training will help inform continued improvements in policy, service delivery, workforce development and quality assurance.
Through its partnership with PAHO/WHO and continued investment in mental health system strengthening, Grenada is advancing a model of care that places people, their rights and their recovery at the center of mental health services.
About WHO QualityRights
WHO QualityRights is a global initiative designed to improve the quality of mental health and social care services while promoting and protecting the human rights of persons with mental health conditions and psychosocial, intellectual or cognitive disabilities. The initiative supports countries in transforming services to become more person-centred, recovery-oriented and aligned with international human rights standards.
