By: Precious Mills
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Friday 28th May 2021) — Premier Mark Brantley has noted that the mental health register in St. Kitts and Nevis has increased, and that the government believes much of this is connected to COVID-19. Speaking at his monthly press conference on Tuesday 25th May 2021, Brantley said: “The unseen part of the health crisis of COVID is that people are having psychological, mental, emotional issues as a result of lockdown, joblessness, hopelessness — so all of these are factors that we have to take into account.”
He addressed the impact of lockdowns on the human psyche: “What happens when a government tells you that you are essentially isolated from others? If you live alone, you may look forward to going to work to engage with workmates, or to church on Sunday — and all of a sudden you are told that you cannot leave your house. What does that do to you?” The register for persons seeking counselling has also increased. Brantley said any decision to lockdown would have to be based on evidence. “It will have to be based on the fact that there is an outbreak that we feel the only way to address is to lockdown. At this point, that is not on the table — but I do not rule anything out because COVID is a fast-moving threat.”