Dominica is advancing efforts to strengthen its mental health system through updated legislation and policy. Stakeholder discussions to inform the development of a mental health policy and revised legislation took place from August 5th to 8th, with this consultation marking the second round of engagement involving more than 50 stakeholders representing diverse segments of society.
Broad Stakeholder Engagement
The collaboration between the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) brought together representatives from diverse sectors including the Attorney General’s Chambers, Village Councils, the Dominica Fire and Ambulance Service, the Dominica Prison Service, non-governmental organizations, academia, religious organizations, the business community, and youth groups. Field consultations were also conducted at health facilities including the Dominica China Friendship Hospital and Reginald Armour Hospital, ensuring insights from healthcare providers were incorporated into policy discussions.
Key Issues and Priorities
Key issues identified during the consultation sessions included the role of the workplace in ensuring access to mental health services, substance use treatment, homelessness in youth and vulnerable populations, and the role of religious institutions in providing counselling services. Dominica State College student Ms. Ta-donna Cornelius highlighted the value of inclusive consultation, noting “It was encouraging to see such strong commitment to strengthening Dominica’s mental health system through updated legislation” and emphasizing “how important it is to include different perspectives, especially youth voices, which are often overlooked but were heard here.”
Implementation and Training
The next phase involves constituting a core multisectoral group that will collaborate with PAHO consultants over the coming months to develop concrete legislative recommendations. Previously, in 2024, PAHO supported training for more than 25 medical officers and nurses in the mhGAP Action Programme to increase access to mental health treatment services at the District level and address critical conditions such as depression and suicide prevention, demonstrating commitment to expanding mental health capacity across the country.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.paho.org/en/news/14-8-2025-mental-health-legislation-and-policy-consultations-continue-dominica