Dear Editor,
When Will We Stop Reacting and Start Preparing?
Mental health is not a new issue in Antigua and Barbuda, yet time and time again, we see the same unfortunate cycle—mentally ill individuals being mishandled, injured, or worse, due to a lack of proper intervention strategies.
Too many times, the police, untrained in crisis intervention, have been forced to deal with persons in the midst of psychotic breaks. And too often, their methods have proven excessive, even brutal.
We have seen incidents where mentally ill individuals have been shot with rubber bullets, beaten in the streets, or restrained with unnecessary force.
On the other hand, we have also seen a tragic case where a mentally unstable individual caused the death of a police officer.
This is not just an issue of protecting those experiencing mental crises—it is about ensuring the safety of the public, law enforcement, and everyone involved.
Police Are Not Mental Health Professionals
The fact of the matter is, the police are not trained to handle psychiatric crises.
Their role is law enforcement, not mental healthcare. Expecting them to deal with these delicate situations without proper training and resources is not only unfair but dangerous.
It is time for the Ministry of Health and the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda to come together and implement a structured, humane, and effective approach to managing mental health emergencies.
A Call for a Specialized Task Force
What we need is a designated team—properly trained and equipped—to respond to mental health crises. This task force should include:
- Medical professionals who can safely administer sedatives if necessary.
- Crisis intervention specialists trained to de-escalate volatile situations.
- Law enforcement officers equipped with proper protective gear and non-lethal restraints.
This approach ensures that individuals in crisis are subdued without unnecessary harm and that officers do not have to resort to violence out of fear or lack of options.
Sensitization and Public Awareness
A plan is only effective if people know about it. Once a system is in place, a public education campaign must follow.
The public, business owners, and all stakeholders should be aware of who to call, what to expect, and how to safely interact with individuals in distress. Too often, we react with fear or aggression simply because we do not understand what is happening.
Mental Health is More Than a Slogan
Mental health advocacy cannot just be about wearing T-shirts, attending a few events, and feeling good about “raising awareness.” We need action. Real, systemic change.
People are suffering under the increasing pressures of life—financial instability, emotional distress, physical illness. Many of us are just one crisis away from a mental breakdown ourselves.
We cannot continue to say “we should have done this” after tragedy strikes. We need to act NOW.
I am calling on the relevant authorities to stop treating mental health like an afterthought and start prioritizing it as a national emergency. Train the police. Build the necessary support systems. Create a clear, humane protocol.
Because the next crisis could be closer than we think. And if we do nothing, we will all have blood on our hands.
A Concerned Citizen
