Sub-Regional meeting of Mental Health Stakeholders in the English-speaking Caribbean

Recommendations – A way forward

• Data collection: Regional strategy for the collection of core mental health data for evidence based planning and decision making; Standardize across regions – attitude surveys; Public education aimed at stigma reduction correcting cultural and historical misconceptions
• Preliminary assessment: implementation of WHO-AIMS urgently (measurements conducted by each country to define the size of the problem in each country – incidence and prevalence); set goals and strategies in relation to above
• Human Rights: Training in human rights: request PAHO to provide preliminary training workshops
• Mental Health Coordinators: Strong lobby (PAHO/CARICOM) to member states for the appointment of a dedicated, mental health coordinator to "drive" all reform activities. Coordinator not necessarily a clinician! The case of St. Lucia
• Information sharing: disseminate "best practices"; print and circulate tools, instruments, manuals; to facilitate an appropriate, standardized information system to support data collection
• Need of a champion: Identify a regional champion to push the agenda through Caucus.