The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

WITH six suicides recorded in The Bahamas in under three months, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville says the government is testing a digital platform to allow people to access online mental health consultations from home.

His remarks followed a suicide attempt on Guana Cay, Abaco, on Monday, where police said a 45-year-old man ingested a quantity of over-the-counter medication in an apparent attempt to take his life. He was taken to a clinic for medical attention.

Dr Darville said the increase in suicides underscores the urgency of the government’s mental health agenda. The Mental Health Bill, passed last year, is now being implemented with the deployment of trained community mental health nurses across the country.

He said 41 nurses were trained in 2024 and are now stationed in various islands to assist individuals with psychiatric conditions. Patients with more severe illnesses are stabilised at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre before being re-integrated into the community with continued support.

“We will be working closely with Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre, where most people who have severe psychiatric illnesses are interfaced with our psychiatrist, and once they’re stabilised, they’re brought back into the community,” Dr Darville said.

The minister added that officials are piloting a platform to connect people with mental health professionals for virtual consultations, particularly those battling depression and anxiety.

He also pointed to collaboration with the private sector on early detection strategies, especially among children and adolescents, noting the importance of identifying warning signs in schools and at home.

“There’s much discussions going on in the private sector on how important it is for early detection. We have children, we hear of kids who are normal, and then all of a sudden, you have no signs and symptoms, or you couldn’t read them properly, and the next thing you know, they’re a suicide case,” he said.

“And so how do you do these early detection? How do you pick it up in school? How does parents understand and know more about what’s going on with the kids.”

Support organisations like the Bahamas Crisis Centre have long called for more targeted action on mental health. The centre has reported a rise in distress calls this year, particularly from young boys experiencing suicidal thoughts and feelings of isolation.

Dr Darville said the government is committed to improving mental healthcare services, and will continue leveraging public-private partnerships to expand access and enhance early intervention.