Dr. Marc Lockhart leaves Mental Health Commission

(CMR) Dr. Marc Lockhart has resigned from the Mental Health Commission, lamenting that he does not think the Cayman Islands is doing enough for mental health.

Dr. Lockhart, who opted not to return as chairman of the Commission, has expressed frustration at the repeated delay in opening the long-term mental health facility in East End. The $15 million facility has been completed; however, with Cayman lacking the expertise to operate such a facility, it has not yet opened.

CMR learned that a foreign company with the expertise had indicated its willingness to assist with opening the facility, but the Government has refused this proposition.

Dr. Lockhart told a local media house, “There are no plans for staffing, there are no plans for preparing the facility to receive the patients. There are no plans for training, for hiring staff, for job descriptions. In order for us to properly move forward, we need to have clear plans, clear communication, clear strategy about what is required.”

He said plans to get the facility properly opened had been submitted, but nothing has been forthcoming.

“I do not feel that we as a community are doing enough from a mental health standpoint. I feel that statements are made, words are spoken, but the action aspect of things falls way below what is spoken,” Dr. Lockhart said.

He further lamented that the level of communication from the Ministry of Health was inadequate, “especially based on the mental health crisis that we are experiencing in this island, in our region, and in the world as a consequence of COVID and the aftermath.”

Dr. Lockhart, who pointed out that suicide attempts in the Cayman Islands increased by 72% between 2020 and 2021, said he was not trying to embarrass anyone by speaking about the current situation.

“This has been my passion. I’m not a politician. I’m not trying to embarrass anyone. I’m not trying to score points. I am trying to improve the mental health system of the Cayman Islands,” he explained.

He reiterated that Cayman needs to pick up the pace in addressing mental health. Currently, Caymanians who need to be institutionalized due to mental health issues are housed in the US and Jamaica.