From left: Kjell Winkens, Project Officer, Mental Health & Prevention, Trimbos Institute; Prof. Dr. Laura Shields-Zeeman, Head of Mental Health and Prevention, Trimbos Institute & Professor of Public Mental Health, Utrecht University; Muraiye Pierre, VSA Policy Advisor; Dr. Andrew Gilmoor, Stakeholder Engagement & Research Consultant, Trimbos Institute.
PHILIPSBURG--The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA and the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) are working to improve how people access appropriate mental health support in St. Maarten through the Improving Mental Health Services Project.
The project is supported by the Trimbos Institute, an independent scientific knowledge institute specialising in mental health, addiction and prevention.
During the first year of the two-and-a-half-year collaboration, Trimbos provided technical support in finalising St. Maarten’s National Strategic Mental Health Plan. The project is now moving into implementation, including the development and testing of new screening and referral systems intended to improve access to appropriate mental health care.
The project is being carried out in collaboration with professionals and organisations within St. Maarten’s mental health and social support systems, with the aim of ensuring that the new approaches are supported across the sector.
During a recent mission to St. Maarten, Trimbos technical experts worked with local partners to begin a pilot of improved mental health screening and referral protocols. General practitioners participated in practical training sessions ahead of the pilot.
The pilot will help determine how people who need mental health support can be identified and connected with appropriate services, as well as identify challenges in the referral process that may need to be addressed.
Trimbos is also advising on prevention and promotion, child and adolescent mental health, social support and ways of connecting people with appropriate services within the community.
“We want people in St. Maarten to be able to seek support at an earlier stage and know where they can turn for the care they need,” said Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Claret Connor. “Testing these approaches in our own healthcare system will help us understand what works, where gaps remain and what the Ministry needs to address as we continue strengthening mental health services.”
The project recognises that people may need support from different parts of the community and healthcare system. Engagement therefore extends beyond healthcare providers to government agencies, social services, faith-based organisations and community groups.
The approaches being developed build on existing systems and are intended to reflect the culture, identity and realities of the communities they serve.
Prof. Dr. Laura Shields-Zeeman, Head of Mental Health and Prevention at the Trimbos Institute, said strengthening mental health support requires a connected approach.
“Mental health is an ecosystem. Making support easier to access requires healthcare, policy, financing, trained professionals and communities to work together. The approaches being tested in St. Maarten are being shaped around the country’s own needs and existing systems,” she said.
The Trimbos team involved in the recent mission also included St. Maarten-born Dr. Andrew Gilmoor, Stakeholder Engagement and Research Consultant at the institute. His work focuses on stakeholder engagement and research, including understanding how people experience the existing mental health system and ensuring that community and professional perspectives inform the approaches being developed and tested.
“I’ve always wanted to be in a place where I can have a great impact in what I do. The ultimate goal is to help our community and help our country. It’s an awesome opportunity to have,” Gilmoor said.
The Improving Mental Health Services Project supports longer-term improvements through investments in infrastructure, policy, prevention, professional capacity and the organisation and delivery of care.
Work completed or advanced under the project includes the National Strategic Mental Health Plan, as well as assessments and technical work to identify gaps and opportunities within the existing mental health system.
The project is also supporting the development of a new purpose-built facility for the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) at St. John’s. The facility is intended to provide an improved environment for mental health services while complementing wider efforts to strengthen the systems, people, policies and services supporting mental healthcare in St. Maarten.
The Improving Mental Health Services Project is implemented by NRPB in collaboration with VSA on behalf of the Government of St. Maarten. It is funded by the St. Maarten Trust Fund, financed by the Government of the Netherlands and administered by the World Bank.
