KPMG in Bermuda has strengthened its healthcare consulting team in Bermuda as it introduces an island-focused approach to mental health.

Penelope Johnstone has rejoined KPMG in Bermuda as a manager in the Infrastructure, Government and Healthcare Advisory team, while Katherine Deane-Gray was recently promoted to senior, advisory.

Osei Agyapong, an analyst who has been with KPMG in Bermuda for two years also supports the healthcare team.

“Our island healthcare team is now seven in strength locally in Bermuda, supporting both Bermuda’s community as well as KPMG Islands Group’s healthcare advisory activity across the Caribbean, Crown Dependencies and Malta where we work,” said Edward Fitzgerald, head of healthcare and life sciences, KPMG Islands Group.

“Strengthening our team based here in Bermuda means we can accelerate our island-specific healthcare services for our whole region.”

Dr Fitzgerald added that the ongoing Mental Health Awareness Month was a reminder of the growing pressure mental health challenges place on health systems around the world.

“In island communities, these pressures are often compounded by limited healthcare workforce, stigma and the high cost of living, combining to make access to care more challenging,” he added.

KPMG added that its new island-specific mental health proposition is designed to help governments, healthcare providers, businesses, and community organisations strengthen mental healthcare provision, improve access, and deliver operational resilience through innovation.

Charlotte Reboul, senior manager, policy, sustainability and healthcare advisory, KPMG Islands Group, who co-leads the mental health proposition, added: “Globally and across the Caribbean, the human and economic costs of unmet mental health needs are becoming increasingly clear.

“Through our work with policymakers, service providers, and community organisations, we see first-hand the urgency for reform.

“Encouragingly, this growing recognition is driving meaningful change across the region, with valuable lessons emerging from one island to another.”

KPMG is aiming its new healthcare advisory offering at employers in Bermuda who are aiming to embed sustainable and locally relevant workplace wellbeing practices.

Katherine Deane-Gray, senior, KPMG Islands Group, who co-leads the mental health proposition, said: “In close-knit island communities, where workforces are often smaller and more interconnected, the impact of poor mental wellbeing can be felt more acutely across organisations.

“Employers that take a proactive, locally-relevant approach can play a crucial role in reducing stigma, supporting their people, and strengthening the wider community.”

KPMG’s mental health proposition is built around three pillars. The first pillar, policy and strategy support, helps governments, corporate employers, and organisations understand current system gaps and design practical solutions.

A second pillar focuses on care models and patient pathway design, supporting island communities to improve access and outcomes across the full spectrum of mental healthcare.

The third pillar centres on operational excellence for mental healthcare providers, helping services become more sustainable and resilient.