Table 4 Mental health promotion and prevention
Indicator | Anguilla | Bermuda | BVI | Cayman Islands | Montserrat | TCI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mental health literacy | Low | Low | Low | Low in some parts of population | Low | Low |
Attitudes towards mental illness | High levels of stigma | High levels of stigma | High levels of stigma | Some stigma, reducing | High levels of stigma | High levels of stigma |
Suicide prevention strategy | No | No | No | No | No | Yes, 2018 |
Promotion & prevention in overall mental health strategy | Yes—objectives on suicide prevention, mental health promotion & community participation | N/a | Yes—objectives on mental illness prevention & stigma reduction | Yes—objectives on mental health promotion & prevention | Yes—objectives on mental illness prevention, stigma reduction & intersectoral mental health promotion | Yes—objectives on mental health promotion and prevention |
Mental health promotion in education | 9 school counsellors, 1 educational psychologist, 1 substance misuse counsellor, 1 school health nurse UNICEF Return to Happiness (150 teachers trained) | Counselling services available Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child programme promotes mental health and wellbeing | School counsellors UNICEF Return to Happiness has ongoing delivery | 17 School counsellors Alex Panton Foundation delivers emotional literacy programme for children (Zippy programme) | School counsellors in secondary schools only UNICEF Return to Happiness | School counsellors UNICEF Return to Happiness |
Other mental health promotion activities | None identified | World Mental Health Day activities (week long awareness raising) Annual art exhibition by service users | World Mental Health Day and Mental Health Month activities (awareness-raising talks in schools, information stand in hospital) Programme to increase individual and community resilience following disasters | World Mental Health Day activities (radio, social media, public information, theatre production in 2019) Mental Health First Aid training for over 180 persons in health service, government and private agencies | Weekly radio programme “Enhancing your Mental Health” | Ad hoc activities e.g. public service announcements, radio shows, Facebook posts |
Mental health organisations | Red Cross | Bermuda Mental Health Foundation Family support group Salvation Army (drug addiction residential facility Harbour Light and emergency housing shelter) Red Cross | Alzheimer’s Association Red cross | Loud Silent Voices and Alex Panton Foundation (service user organisations) Red Cross | Red Cross | Red Cross |