PHILIPSBURG:--- Last Wednesday, January 30th the Mental Health Foundation hosted their New Year's Reception for all its partners and stakeholders. ''We've come a long way, but we are not there yet'', said Interim director Eileen Healy in her speech.
We started in 2006 with one fly-in doctor in a small building on the LB-Scot road with a mission to provide quality mental health care to the people of Sint Maarten. Based on our core values of ethical and transparent service, accountability, innovation, collaboration and valuing the people, we've expanded to an organization with approximately 40 employees who offer seven different care products and who care for approximately 100 patients and their families.
However, ''we are not there yet''. The much needed new facility, the difficulties in hiring qualified professionals and in general getting the financial funds to provide community care are currently issues for which we fight every day. This fight is not an easy one. Due to the stigma surrounding mental health, people tend to avoid the topic. However, it is still there, and if you don't deal with it, it will only turn into a bigger problem later! This applies for individuals on the island who (as so many of us) struggle with mental health issues, but also for health care professionals and the government whose responsibility it is to provide care.
It is for this reason that it is important to strengthen our professional relationships with partners and stakeholders who share this common goal. ''We have to do it together because together we stand strong'' she concluded, addressing the several health care professionals and politicians in the audience.
Both minister of Justice Cornelius de Weever and the minister of VSA Emil Lee, we're given the microphone afterwards. Both ministers expressed gratitude for the work that the Mental Health Foundation is doing and stated the importance of the foundation for the well-being of the people of Sint Maarten. Minster of VSA added that he is willing to help the Mental Health Foundation to the best of his abilities.
http://www.smn-news.com/st-maarten-st-martin-news/31149-mental-health-makes-it-stance-for-2019.html
