MOHW and the BPD are working to better police the mentally challenged

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is working with the Belize Police Department to improve the policing of the country’s mentally challenged population. In recent months Belize has seen many cases of mental health patients being mishandled by the police. The issue has recently been highlighted with the death of a mother of five who died while being chained up by her family during a mental episode. To strengthen its mental health policy, access to care and the diagnosis of mental conditions the Ministry of Health has established a crisis management team. Dr. Melissa Diaz Musa, the Director of Public Health and Wellness, explained that the ministry is training forty cops in mental health management.

Dr. Diaz-Musa added that the training will not only allow the officers to assist and better deal with civilians suffering from mental health complications but their fellow officers as well.