WILLEMSTAD - On April 17, further steps were taken during a conference in Curaçao to intensify and formalize the collaboration between various mental health care providers in the Caribbean part of the kingdom, under the name 'Dutch Caribbean Mental Health', as a legal entity. The participating organizations include the foundations FSMA Respaldo (Aruba), GGZ Curaçao, Brasami (Curaçao), PSI Skuchami (Curaçao), Mental Health Foundation Sint Maarten, and Mental Health Caribbean (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba). 

The directors and board members of these organizations convened during a conference on mental health care (GGZ) and forensic care (FZ) in Curaçao to further discuss the prerequisites for establishing a federation. The goal of the 'Federation Dutch Caribbean Mental Health' will be to enhance the quality of mental health care across all islands within the kingdom. The federation will facilitate the exchange of substantive and organizational expertise, particularly in the areas of quality improvement, legislation and regulations, and training. 

Curaçao Conference 

During the conference, speakers from all parts of the Kingdom shared their expertise and experiences regarding GGZ and FZ. Topics discussed included developments in legislation, involuntary GGZ, FZ within detention, outpatient forensic care, addiction care, and aftercare. The aim of the conference was to propose measures to improve collaboration between GGZ and FZ in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. Together, the recommendations were presented to the attending ministers of the countries within the Kingdom to enhance various forms of involuntary and forensic care.