Ministry of Health moving to change attitudes towards mental health

The Ministry of Health is working to implement a reform programme designed to overhaul public perspectives on mental health in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as the country’s psychiatric framework currently balances on a heavily limited staff.

This information was shared by Minister of Health, Daniel Cummings, during a hand over ceremony of the Operational Training Unit (OTU), on June 30, 2026 at the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre (MHRC), at Glen.

Minister Cummings said that Mental health is one of the areas that challenges him greatly as a minister.

He explained that the challenge is not just in finding resources to treat patients, but it is also convincing society that mental health is an illness that is treatable and curable, and that families with relatives who are mentally ill, need their help.

“They don’t need to be set aside and abandoned and treated as though they don’t exist. The very opposite is true,” the minister said.

He assured those in attendance that his ministry is in the process of setting up a programme to change people’s perspective on this issue.

“And as we go forward, you will see some of it in action. But I want seriously to thank you [ Rotary Club] for this very thoughtful exercise adding to this building, making it a giant step forward…in the care and rehabilitation for the occupants of these facilities.”