The draft plan being presented to VSA Minister Richinel Brug (fifth right).
PHILIPSBURG--The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA has received the final draft of St Maarten’s 10-year mental health vision and strategic plan for 2025 through 2035, titled “Stronger Minds, Stronger Communities.”
The draft plan lays out a shared direction for improving mental health and well-being across the country, aiming to build a resilient, inclusive, and person-centred system that ensures timely, affordable, and quality support for all residents.
The plan was developed as part of the Mental Health Project (MHP), funded through the trust fund and implemented by the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) in close cooperation with VSA, with technical guidance from the Trimbos Institute, a leading Dutch expertise centre for mental health and addiction care.
Minister of VSA, Richinel Brug, praised the work of all involved. “This draft vision represents an important milestone. It gives St Maarten a clear and inclusive direction for how we want to strengthen mental health care over the next decade. I commend the professionals, stakeholders, and community members who contributed to this process. The Ministry will now review the draft to ensure it fully aligns with our national priorities and the needs of our people,” he said.
The Stronger Minds, Stronger Communities draft stresses that mental health and well-being are part of everyday life, and that seeking help is a sign of strength. It reflects Sint Maarten’s commitment to prevention, early intervention, and recovery-focused services that make support easier to access and use.
The 10-year strategic plan was developed with extensive input from local professionals and organizations, following two years of consultations, sounding-board sessions, and a final validation workshop. Participants included the Mental Health Foundation, Turning Point Foundation, White and Yellow Cross Care Foundation, Sint Maarten Medical Center, independent psychologists, general practitioners, the Student Support Services Division, SZV, NGOs, community representatives, and individuals with lived experience of mental health and substance use challenges.
NRPB Director Claret Connor highlighted the collaborative nature of the plan. “The vision was shaped by Sint Maarteners themselves, professionals, community members, and people with lived experience who shared their insights and expertise. With VSA’s leadership and Trimbos’ technical guidance under the Mental Health Project, we are now close to completing a document that will guide implementation in the years ahead,” Connor said.
The draft Strategic Plan is organised around four focus areas. The first, Network of Support, aims to link community help desks, primary care, peer support, and specialist services, while introducing supported housing and reintegration programmes. Start Well, Stay Well focuses on strengthening prevention and awareness throughout life stages, from schools to workplaces and families. Mental Health in All Policies and Sectors seeks to ensure sound governance, sustainable financing, and updated legislation to protect rights and improve quality of care. Finally, Learning, Monitoring, and Evaluation promotes the use of data, user feedback, and digital tools for continuous improvement.
The Ministry of VSA will review the draft in the coming weeks before finalising and formally adopting Stronger Minds, Stronger Communities as Sint Maarten’s official mental health vision and strategic plan.
