Plans are under way for the creation of a national mental health co-ordination and advocacy organisation to support residents, the Minister of Health has revealed.

Kim Wilson said that the centralised body would oversee health awareness, education and policy alignments to ensure, among other things, easy access for people battling mental health conditions.

The House of Assembly heard on Monday that the appointment of a mental health programmes co-ordinator has been instrumental in managing initiatives, fostering collaboration and ensuring the efficient use of resources.

Ms Wilson said: “A central focus of our efforts is expanding access to counselling, therapy and crisis intervention services.

“By increasing the capacity of these services, we can ensure timely care for individuals facing emotional distress, crisis situations and long-term conditions.

“This expansion will reduce wait times and ensure that underserved populations have necessary access to necessary mental health support and resources.”

She added that public awareness campaigns would continue to play a significant role in reducing stigma around mental health.

Ms Wilson told MPs: “Looking ahead, one of our key goals is the establishment of a national mental health co-ordinating and advocacy entity.

“This centralised body will oversee mental health awareness, education and policy co-ordination, simplifying the navigation of the mental health system and ensuring that individuals can easily access the support they need.

“Progress is already under way with the development of a national mental health website and the identification of the right leadership will be crucial to the acceleration of these efforts.”

The creation of a website, the minister said, was one step among several that the ministry was implementing in response to the “urgent need” for sustained and comprehensive support to people affected by mental health conditions.

During a breakdown of the 2025-26 Budget, Ms Wilson said the ministry was leading efforts for youth-focused first-aid training and enhancing support for residents to identify and assist people who may be experiencing mental health challenges.

She said: “By investing in programmes that provide prevention, early intervention crisis response and mental health awareness, we aim to reduce the long-term impact of untreated mental health conditions.”

Ms Wilson told the House: “The Ministry of Health continues implementation of the 2024 midyear Budget in the amount of $2.29 million on a comprehensive programme of mental health support initiatives.

“Today, targeted investments have been made in raising community awareness of mental wellbeing, building community capacity for support, and continuing engagement with adolescents for prevention, early intervention and community-based care.”

Ms Wilson said that the Acute Adult Mental Health Integrated Care Pathway report and research led by Daniel Cavanagh and his team on youth mental health had identified key recommendations, which drove the Government’s priorities on the topic.

She explained that challenges such as anxiety, stress, violence and substance abuse placed “immense strain” on the ministry’s healthcare services, on schools and community organisations.

As evidence of support to address mental health, she said Age Concern Bermuda had used its annual grant to implement a comprehensive programme to address the mental wellbeing of seniors, mainly through awareness and training.

Family Centre has strengthened its counselling services by focusing on early detection and intervention of mental health challenges faced by individuals between the ages of 4 and 18.

Its programme provides a safe space for children, teenagers and families to heal, build coping skills and to address social challenges, among others.

Meanwhile, Ms Wilson said that efforts continued as the ministry worked towards achieving universal healthcare next year.

In the Budget, $462,000 was allocated for human resources to manage the project management office that is overseeing the implementation of universal healthcare.

The funds will cover the salaries of the office’s director, a project manager, a business analyst and an executive assistant.

Ms Wilson said that $1.23 million had been allocated for the operation of the office, including hiring the requisite experts, marketing and communications.

Among the work of the project management team is the creation of a care benefits package to meet the population needs, an assessment of health workforce gaps and drafting of a national patients’ Bill of rights.

The health minister said: “These foundational efforts represent critical steps in the long-term transformation of Bermuda’s health system.”