Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is a 389-square-kilometer, multi-island country in the Caribbean. SVG achieved full independence from the United Kingdom on October 27, 1979. The population is 104,300, with 30% living in poverty. Poverty, lack of mental health professionals and social stigma impact mental health in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. La Soufriere volcano erupted in 2020 and 2021 while the country was still reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. About 22,400 people were evacuated. The devastation of the pandemic and volcanic eruptions has further impacted the mental health struggles of Vincentians.

The government of SVG continues to make efforts to advance treatment for mental health conditions. Although increasing care and resources for the mental health community in SVG has been difficult, it has made improvements.

Mental Health and Post-Colonialism

Colonialism has had a long-lasting impact on trauma-based mental health struggles. The legacy of colonial-era psychiatry shaped social stigmas around mental health diagnosis and care. For example, enslaved Africans brought to the Caribbean were diagnosed as mentally ill if they tried to escape their masters. Post-abolition psychiatric treatments included locking patients in asylums, away from society. However, a broader, more comprehensive approach to reframing mental health diagnosis and care can help overcome stigma.

The Mental Health Centre 

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has one psychiatric hospital called the Mental Health Centre. The colonial British Government was built it in 1938 to keep psychiatric patients away from society. It was designed to house 90 patients.

The center serves a different purpose today. It provides inpatient, outpatient and drug rehabilitation services. It can now house more than 160 inpatients. As of 2020, the total number of hospital admissions was 401, with 387 being involuntary. About 29.4% of inpatients stayed in the center for less than a year. 

Schizophrenia, substance abuse and related disorders, such as psychosis, are the main mental health conditions that receive treatment in SVG. As of 2020, out of 1,125 treated cases of psychosis, 954 were men and 171 were women.

Suicidal behavior among Vincentian adolescents is disproportionately high at 26%. Economic class disparities, substance use, being bullied, access to mental health services and loneliness are all risk factors.

Legislation

SVG passed the Mental Health Act in 1981 and amended in 1991. It includes sections for admission to the psychiatric hospital, mental review board, approved homes, and protection of property of persons suffering from mental disorders.

Psychiatrist Shortage in SVG

The shortage of psychiatrists in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is alarming. The Saint Vincent Times explained in an April 7, 2025 article, “The recruitment of mental health professionals is hindered by various factors, including limited resources, inadequate incentives and the growing global competition for qualified psychiatrists.” The government of SVG is aware of this issue and is working to recruit qualified mental health professionals.

Government Efforts To Improve Mental Health in SVG

The government, led by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, recognizes that mental health services in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are still weak. Gonsalves has expressed the importance of providing mental health support to marginalized groups such as prisoners and disaster survivors. 

About 6% of the government’s health expenditure goes to mental health care. Mental health services and medication in SVG are free of cost to patients and national health insurance covers them. However, it is a cost to the state. The state’s limited resources continue to be a challenge to improving mental health services for Vincentians. Additionally, the stress of poverty and lack of employment leads to increased depression, anxiety, and other mental health struggles.

Examples of mental health programs implemented by the government include Mental Health Awareness, Mental Health and Suicide Awareness and Psychological First Aid and counseling.

Conclusion

Although SVG has made progress, mental health in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines still has a long way to go. Ongoing efforts to address poverty, increase mental health awareness, fund mental health programs and recruit mental health professionals will help close the gaps in SVG mental health care needs. 

– Vijji Michael

Vijji is based in New York, NY, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikipedia Commons