Staff at the Psychiatric Hospital have been assured that the Ministry of Health and Wellness will “move with alacrity” to fill posts, including those of clinical psychologists and occupational therapists, in light of a growing need for mental health services for Barbadians.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Wayne Webster, disclosed at the Hospital’s recently held Awards and Recognition Ceremony, at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle Resort, that an increase in the demand for mental health services to protect children and adolescents was an area of immediate concern for the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

He further noted that the Psychiatric Hospital would increase the staffing levels required to meet the needs of this population group.

“These needs are, in part, being demonstrated by the number of presentations to the Hospital’s Assessment Unit. During the seven-month period June to December, 2025, a total of 295 young persons between the ages of six to 17 presented at the Assessment Unit, that provides 24-hour emergency service.

“Maintaining their care in the emergency setting is dependent on the availability of psychological and occupational therapy services that are currently inadequate due to the low staffing levels,” the Permanent Secretary shared.

He added that the creation of additional pools and the subsequent employment of four counselling psychologists have made some impact on the general delivery of mental health services in the community, particularly for children and adolescent services.

Mr. Webster said that in 2025, psychological services for children and adolescents were decentralised from the Child Guidance Clinic, located at the Branford Taitt Polyclinic, and these services are now being delivered by counselling psychologists at all other polyclinics. He further noted that the young clients were now able to access care within their respective catchment areas, decreasing the time for appointments.

“I am told that there’s still, however, an urgent need for additional posts of clinical psychologists and to fill the posts of occupational therapists that were recently advertised. The ministry will move for alacrity to ensure that these posts are filled in the shortest possible time,” he stated.

The Permanent Secretary told staff that their contribution to the health of the country was invaluable. He said the work of everyone at the facility, from the psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, nurses and social workers to the maintenance, laundry and kitchen staff, improved the lives of the 500-plus inpatients at the hospital as well as its outpatients.

He explained that, regrettably, many persons still associated mental health services with admission to the Black Rock, St. Michael institution, but pointed out that was just one critical aspect of care provided when individuals need 24-hour medical management to stabilise and manage their mental illness.

Mr. Webster said mental health care was not only provided in the hospital setting but also delivered at the psychiatric hospital outpatient clinic through community-based mental health clinics, located in the nine polyclinics across the island. He added that there were also targeted programmes delivered in schools, churches, workplaces and within the wider community.

He shared that in 2024, the Psychiatric Hospital recorded 919 admissions for inpatient care while 2,199 visits were made to the Assessment Unit, where persons are evaluated before being admitted to the hospital.

Additionally, that year, the hospital outpatient clinic, which provides follow up care to discharged patients and manages clients from the general community, recorded 10,286 attendances. There were 22,264 client visits to the community mental health services delivered through the specialty health clinics, located in each of the polyclinics, in addition to the St. Andrew and St. Joseph Outpatient Clinics.

Mr. Webster added that there were a total of 6,695 home visits, which are also an integral part of the outpatient services for clients who face barriers to attending clinic appointments.

“The consistently high levels of engagement reflected in these statistics reinforce the important role played by the community services in maintaining continuity of care for vulnerable clients,” Mr. Webster stated.

Author: Melissa Rollock

Pubished: May 15, 2026