by Nisha Paul
- 6-month training programme will cost approximately EC$81,600
- Programme invests in improving care for vulnerable patients and enhancing frontline support staff skills
- Stakeholder consultations on National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention policies scheduled to begin Tuesday, 2 June
Ten orderlies attached to Mt Gay Psychiatric Hospital, Grenada’s lone mental institution, are set to begin specialised Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) Level 2 training at the end of May as the government moves to strengthen mental healthcare and patient support services.
Minister with responsibility for Mental Health Delma Thomas announced the initiative during this week’s Lower House of Parliament sitting, describing the programme as an investment in improving care for vulnerable patients while enhancing the skills of frontline support staff. The 6-month training programme facilitated by La Boucan Training Centre was approved through the Ministry of Mental Health, Wellness and Religious Affairs, and will cost approximately EC$81,600.
“This initiative represents an important investment in human resource development and the improvement of care services for some of the most vulnerable members of our society,” Thomas said, and also revealed that Cabinet approved EC$42,000 in stipends for the trainees to support participation and successful completion of the programme.
Thomas said the initiative forms part of wider efforts to strengthen Grenada’s mental health sector as the government continues work on new national mental health and suicide prevention policies.
External stakeholder consultations on the National Mental Health Policy and Suicide Prevention Policy are scheduled to begin Tuesday, 2 June, at the Deluxe Cinema in Grenville, St Andrew, in collaboration with a consultant from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO). According to the minister, the consultations will bring together key stakeholders and partners as Grenada continues a national dialogue focused on improving mental health services, suicide prevention strategies and public awareness.
Thomas said the policy initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to reducing stigma and building a more supportive society for persons affected by mental health challenges.
We must trust that this training will truly equip participants with the competence to deliver professional, compassionate care to one of the most vulnerable groups in our society.
It is equally essential that management ensures that these acquired skills are not merely learned, but consistently applied in practice .
Our attitudes towards individuals and their families living with a psychiatric disorder MUST CHANGE, and that change must begin now.