Breaking

9-Year-Old Boy Dies After Being Shot in Head in Croixville Housing Community; Police Detain 15-Year-Old

Concerned Residents Clean Christiansted Town Using Their Own Tools, Money, and Some Help from the VI Fire Service

Territory May See Veterans Cemetery Through DeGazon-Sponsored Bill

Credit and Debit Cards of WAPA Customers Were Compromised Since August 30th, WAPA Says, Authority to Finally Start Issuing Notification Via Mail and Email

Sports Tourism in VI Gains Momentum as DC United Team is set to Play Exhibition Soccer Game on St. Croix

Carnival Breeze Brings 3,700 Tourists to St. Croix During Maiden Call; Senators, Tourism Officials Want to See More

Limetree Bay Willing To Provide $10 Million To Help Add Life to a Dying G.E.R.S.

American Airlines to Serve St. Croix With New Flights Next Summer

The Sudden Death of Influential Roots Reggae Visionary, Vaughn Benjamin of Midnite Band and Akae Beka, Has Rocked the Virgin Islands and Reggae Community Around the World

Arthur A. Richards K-8 School Hosts Anti-Bullying Campaign

Come Out. Hang Out. Have Fun at The Meat Up, One of St. Thomas’ Latest Hot-Spot for Good Food with Friends and Family.

UVI Board of Trustees Approves $47.1 Million Fiscal Year 2020 Budget; Sets $3 Million Fundraising Goal

Man Dies During Early Morning Car Accident on St. Croix; Driver of Car Arrested (Updated)

'You Did Everything You Could to Prevent this from Happening': An Emotional Goodbye to Young Aaron Benjamin

Back in Business: Cost U Less on St. Thomas Opened its Doors Friday to Thousands of Customers 2 Years after Irma and Maria

Bill Aimed at Regulating Credit Use by Gov't Departments and Agencies Among Others Held in Committee

Juan Luis Hospital Announces Completion and Availability of Mobile Dialysis Facilities

Tractor Trailer With Tank Carrying Thousands Of Gallons of Liquified Gas Flips Near Cool Out Bar; Driver Injured But Alive

Credit and Debit Card Hack Through WAPA Appears to be Widespread in Virgin Islands; WAPA Says Support Services Will be Made Available to Affected Customers

Facing Life in Prison Without Parole, Mother and Boyfriend Plead Not Guilty in Murder of 4-Year-Old Boy

With His Feb. 19 Mental Health State Of Emergency Declaration, Bryan Seeks To Improve Behavioral Services In U.S.V.I.

Health / News / Top Stories / Virgin Islands / March 10, 2019

Governor Albert Bryan on February 19 signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency on mental health in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In a release issued by Government House on Saturday, Mr. Bryan said the aim of the declaration is to improve behavioral services along with mental health in the territory. (The Government House release did not say when the order was signed. However, in a release issued on February 19, Senator Alicia Barnes commended Mr. Bryan for the declaration, which she said was signed on the aforementioned date.)

The executive order will enable the hiring of professionals in the mental health sector by the Department of Health (D.O.H.) along with the territory’s hospitals, according to Government House. It also clears the path for D.O.H. to ramp up its search effort for behavioral health professionals.

The order will remain in effect until D.O.H. confirms that there are enough providers of psychiatric care in the territory, or for 180 days unless renewed by the governor, Government House said.

“We know well the lingering issues with mental and behavioral health in the territory. Since hurricanes Irma and Maria the need for these services has grown, and with the departure of the emergency providers, the issue has become more critical. We can no longer ignore the need which will likely increase as we approach another hurricane season. The previous administration made a similar declaration in 2016. This time we need to follow through for the residents who need these services most,” Mr. Bryan said, according to Government House.

He added, “Declaring this emergency will give our Department of Health access to federal resources and allow the department to expand its search for mental health providers. I thank the providers who have worked tirelessly to fill this void, but we have to provide the help they need. I am calling on the Agencies where these services will be provided to work together creatively to provide this important service to our community.” 

When the executive order was signed in February, Ms. Barnes commended the action. “I commend the governor on his recent action which extended the Mental Health State of Emergency,” she said in a release issued February 20.

She added, “This action will facilitate the expedited hiring of mental health professionals by streamlining the personnel process bringing much needed relief to our residents who are suffering from behavioral health issues. I look forward to working with Governor Bryan and my colleagues in the 33rd Legislature for the implementation of short and long term solutions to remedy the longstanding mental health crisis plaguing our community.”

The executive order makes way for the swift deployment of providers from the United States Public Health Services Commissioned Corps and other federal programs. It also suspends provisions in the Virgin Islands Code that restrict the rehiring of retired mental health professionals,  Government House said.

Government House said Department of Health Commissioner Nominee Justa Encarnacion, along with Deputy Commissioner Nicole Craigwell Syms, have made strengthening mental health care and expanding the services a priority and are both leading the administration’s efforts to improve the delivery of mental health and behavioral services throughout the territory.

“The Department of Health is grateful to Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. and Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach for their support regarding behavioral and mental health services in the form of Executive Order 486-2019. I am confident that the order will expedite the hiring of necessary providers in the territory,” Ms. Encarnacion said. “The executive order provides an avenue to increasing access to services that have been decreased in some areas and non-existent in others. The department’s goal is to promote ‘mental wellness’ which we can accomplish through rapid outpatient responses to acute psychotic episodes, and we are looking forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.”






Staff Consortium




Previous Post

Man Loses Control Of Car, Crashes Into Wall, After Being Shot In Strawberry

Next Post

Dept. Of Health Embarks On Food Inspection Initiative With Aim Of Protecting Residents, Educating Restaurateurs



Leave a Reply


More Story

Man Loses Control Of Car, Crashes Into Wall, After Being Shot In Strawberry

ST. CROIX -- A man told police that he crashed into a wall on Friday afternoon at about 3:00 p.m. in Strawberry, after being...

March 10, 2019