The Mental Health Commission Law was tabled and passed in the Legislative Assembly in May 2013. In December 2013, the members of the Mental Health Commission were appointed by Cabinet and the Commission held its first meeting in February 2014.

The Commission consists of stakeholders from various sectors representing legal, health care practitioners with training in mental health, and advocates/laypersons.

The law deals with persons who are involuntarily detained (against their will), therefore the Commission will ensure that the rights of the detained persons are protected and the detention is in their best interest. As such an appeal process is established under Law for those persons who think they have been wrongly detained.

Minister responsible for Health, Honourable Osbourne Bodden, stated “The Mental Health Commission was set up to ensure that the rights of our mental health patients and their families are protected. This represents a first for the Cayman Islands and I am very pleased to have the available expertise and knowledge serve as members of the Commission. I would like to thank the members of the Commission for agreeing to serve and I look forward to receiving periodic updates on the work of the Commission”.

The Commission will focus on key issues and make recommendation to government, service providers and other stakeholders on ways to improve the local mental health system. Other functions of the Commission include, but are not limited to, hearing appeals, periodic review of the detained patient, advocacy, research and training programmes to reduce stigma and discrimination, and advising the Minister for Health.

Persons requiring further information may contact the Mental Health Commission at [email protected] or Janett Flynn at 244-2374.

Photo Caption: Front row L – R: Members of Cayman’s first Mental Health Commission: Taylor Burrowes Nixon, Deputy Chair, Dr Marc Lockhart, Chair, Olivaire Watler Deputy Chair.

Back row L – R: Janett Flynn, Senior Policy Advisor for Health Ministry, Dr Blanca Bolea, Julene Banks, Hon Osbourne Bodden, Minister for Health, Faylene Ebanks-Suckoo, Pastor Dale Forbes and Sophia Walker. Missing – Kimberly Voaden