Mental Health Services
Mental
illness is a serious and growing problem in Trinidad and Tobago.
The government offers free assessment, prevention and treatment of mental
illnesses to all citizens. Treatment is offered on an inpatient or
outpatient basis, depending on the nature of the mental disorder.
How do I access mental health care?
If you
have been diagnosed with a mental illness or you feel you may have a mental
disorder that requires treatment, you can access mental health care simply by
visiting one of the mental health facilities listed in the
"Where can I access mental health
care?" section below. Mental health care can be
provided voluntarily when a mentally ill person seeks out treatment, or
involuntarily when a mentally ill person urgently requires treatment but does
not enter treatment voluntarily.
Voluntary treatment can be accessed by visiting a mental health
care facility and filling out a "Voluntary Admission
Form." The patient is then assessed and a course
of treatment is suggested. Treatment can be given on an inpatient
or outpatient basis.
Involuntary admission can take place in
one of two ways. A mentally ill person can be brought to a
treatment centre by friends or family, where an "Urgent
Assessment Form" is filled out. The patient is
then assessed and undergoes treatment, if appropriate. If it is not
possible to bring the patient to a treatment centre, two independent
psychiatric doctors must certify that the patient is mentally ill and
requires treatment. The Medical Chief of Staff at the St. Ann's
Hospital must be informed of this finding in writing. The Medical
Chief of Staff then prepares an apprehension order and Mental Health Officers
are instructed to apprehend the patient and admit him or her to a mental health
facility. Please note that patients who are involuntarily admitted
are kept at the facility until health care professionals determine that they
can be released safely.
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What kind of treatment is available?
People
with mental illnesses can be treated as either inpatients (when they are
admitted to a health care facility) or outpatients. Inpatient
treatment can include acute and chronic patient care. Acute patient
care involves medication and psychotherapy, while chronic patient care
involves medication, psychotherapy and rehabilitation.
Outpatient treatment can include medication, psychotherapy and
rehabilitation, and is administered at health centres that offer mental
health care while the patient continues to live at home in his or her
community.
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Where can I access mental health care?
Inpatient
treatment for extended periods of time is available only at the
St.
Ann's Hospital.
St. Ann's Hospital
St. Ann's Road
St. Ann's
Trinidad
Tel. (868) 624-1151
Opening hours: 24 hours
For a list of
other mental health facility locations, please follow the link
below:
Mental Health Care Facilities
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Where can I find more information?
For more
information, please contact the mental health facility nearest you or the
Ministry of Health.
The Ministry of Health
56 Park Street
Port of Spain
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868)
627-0010
Opening hours: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday except public
holidays.
Ministry of Health
Mental Health Care Facilities
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