In 2020, Saint Lucia had a population of 40,200 young people (10-24 years) and they accounted for about 22% of the population. Despite being a high-middle-income nation, Saint Lucia has certain impoverished areas and relatively low living conditions. Compared to adults aged 18 and older (21%), one in three or 35% of children aged 0-17 and 33% of adolescents aged 10-19 lived in poverty. Here is information about how poverty impacted mental health in Saint Lucia.

The Region

Saint Lucia is an island in the Eastern Caribbean between Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In 2016, poverty estimates showed that 20.3% of Saint Lucia’s population were poor (or live below $5.50 a day). Saint Lucia maintained their poverty level despite the Great Recession of 2008/2009 and the frequency of extreme weather events in 2010 and 2013. These events made Saint Lucia extremely vulnerable to poverty. The performance of tourism and the agricultural sectors’ recovery also significantly impacted Saint Lucia’s poverty level.

Due to COVID-19, Saint Lucia experienced negative growth, increased unemployment and inflation in 2020, increasing poverty. The pandemic caused an economic downturn in 2020, with a GDP decline of more than 20%, which led to severe employment and income losses. There was a rise in unemployment in 2020, with unemployment rates among women and young people growing the greatest. Food prices in the island nation increased due to supply chain interruptions, and food insecurity worsened among the poor and vulnerable.

Factors Leading to Mental Health Challenges

According to UNICEF, poverty contributed to mental health in Saint Lucia because people lived in “inadequate and unsanitary housing” in low-quality neighborhoods, which are particularly vulnerable to weather-related damage. The people in these neighborhoods were endangered due to the high rates of crime and violence. Obtaining access to high-quality education and other needs such as food, sustainable infrastructure and health care were difficult and influenced mental health in Saint Lucia.

Using data from the 2018 Global School-based Student Health Survey, professionals examined the frequency of suicide behavior and its contributing factors among 1,864 adolescents attending Saint Lucian schools. Suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt showed prevalence rates of 25.5%, 22.1% and 17.5%, respectively. The quality of one’s family life and other negative experiences such as discrimination and exclusion, lack of support and mental health services made the adolescents of Saint Lucia more susceptible to mental health issues.

National Mental Wellness Centre

Mental health services progressed and increased due to the government of the island and South East Asian partners. The first step toward mental health care was the Golden Hope Hospital. In 2010, the National Mental Wellness Centre was replaced by the hospital. With close collaboration between doctors, nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers, the center offered an extensive style of care. Everyone receives services like free medication and counseling without charge.

Nine of the island’s 34 health centers provide mental health services in addition to the hospital. In 2018, three nurse practitioners with training in psychiatry provided community-based mental health services in regularly scheduled clinics held in each of the nine health centers. There are community-based psychiatric in-patient units and day treatment centers.

Mental Health Improvement

With the National Mental Wellness Centre, complications and challenges still exist. Complications include shortages of hospital beds and lack of alternatives, stigmas and discrimination, staff training and supervision, and legislation and policy. Plenty more plans and institutions are underway to improve mental health in Saint Lucia. According to BJPsych Internatioanl, the long-term goal is to create a mental health complex from the National Mental Wellness Center, Turning Point and Owen King EU Hospital to provide more community-based care and lower admission rates. Among the modifications will be the addition of a ward for children and adolescents.

Saint Lucia’s poverty level consisted of unemployment, limited economic opportunities, limited access to quality education and health care, dependence on agriculture and natural disasters impacting the economy. Although the poverty level had a significant impact on mental health in Saint Lucia, there are efforts to address these factors involving government policies, social programs, and international cooperation.

– AuiCha Conley
Photo: Flickr