Collaboration between Dutch Caribbean mental healthcare organizations strengthened
23 April 2024
Willemstad On April 17, further steps were taken during a conference in Curaçao to intensify the cooperation between various mental health organizations in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, called ‘Dutch Caribbean Mental Health’, and formalize it into a legal entity. This includes the foundations FSMA Respaldo (Aruba), GGZ Curaçao, Verslavingskliniek Brasami (Curaçao), PSI Skuchami (Curaçao), Mental Health Foundation Sint Maarten and Mental Health Caribbean (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba).
Federation Dutch Caribbean Mental Health
During a conference on mental health care and forensic care in Curaçao the directors and managers of these organizations came together to further discuss the conditions for establishing a federation. The goal of the ‘Federation Dutch Caribbean Mental Health’ will be to facilitate the quality of mental health care on all islands within the Kingdom. The federation will promote the exchange of expertise. Especially in the areas of quality and development, legislation and education.
Conference Curaçao
During the conference, speakers from all parts of the Kingdom shared their knowledge and experiences on mental health and forensic care. The topics covered included developments in legislation, compulsory mental health care, forensic care during detention, ambulatory forensic care, addiction care and aftercare. The goal of the conference was to come up with proposals to improve the cooperation between the mental health care and forensic care field in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. The recommendations were jointly presented to the ministers in attendance from the countries within the Kingdom to improve the various forms of forced care and forensic care.
