The Cabinet is currently holding discussions leading to the formulation of a
national policy on mental illness.
To this end, the Cabinet invited the Minister of Social Transformation, Senator
Samantha Marshall to its meeting on Wednesday, to examine the nation’s policy
on handling persons suffering from mental health challenges.
“The Sir Lester Bird Medical Center is not designed to treat mental patients. The
Clarevue Mental Hospital is the place where mental health issues are to be treated
since the psychiatrist is assigned to that hospital; however, patients who are in a
state of readiness to return to their homes have been abandoned by family
members,” according to Cabinet sources.
The Minister also reported that Alzheimer’s is affecting a larger population of the
nation’s elderly citizens. Daycare centers for the elderly are likely to become
necessary throughout Antigua and Barbuda.
On a related subject, the Cabinet was reminded that the CARE Project exists to
provide living quarters to children with extreme disabilities. The youthful students
attending the Adele School are differently abled. Several are autistic and many can
learn to be productive.
It was reported that one of the highest mathematical grades achieved among all
students in a particular age group was an autistic student who mastered
mathematics. The Minister also reported that many of our young people are
performing really well in NGOs that are training youthful leaders for the future.
