On Monday, Member of Parliament Dennerich Kelly, together with his colleagues from the AVP faction, conducted a working visit to Fundacion Respaldo (SGGZ Aruba) to engage in a serious and in-depth dialogue regarding the current state and the future of mental health in Aruba.
Since 2017, Respaldo has achieved significant professionalization within the GGZ system. The integration of clinical, outpatient, and outreach services within a single institution remains an ongoing process, but concrete steps have already been taken to reduce the historical fragmentation that characterized the sector for decades.
The introduction of a 24/7 crisis service, the implementation of E-health, the POPP clinic, and modern treatments such as ECT — for which patients previously had to travel to another island — confirm a clear evolution in quality, autonomy, and access to specialized care.
During the meeting, it became clear that despite the progress achieved, the demand for specialized care is growing faster than the current capacity. This is creating pressure on personnel, infrastructure, and financial sustainability. This challenge is not unique to Aruba, but part of an international trend that must be addressed with serious planning and long-term strategic vision.
The dialogue did not focus on individual incidents, but rather on structural strengthening of the system. According to MP Kelly, mental health requires institutional stability, policy continuity, and coherence in governance.
“Our country has experienced periods in which political decisions within the sector did not always contribute to greater integration. Now is the time to build on a solid structure, avoid unnecessary duplication, and place collaboration at the center in the interest of the patient,” Kelly stated.
An important point discussed during the visit was the future of forensic care. Currently, Aruba does not have specialized infrastructure to handle complex forensic cases. For a small country, cooperation within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and at the international level — including potential collaboration within the TBS framework — may represent a more realistic and sustainable model than separate investments. According to Kelly, this issue must be handled with legal responsibility, guarantee public safety, and maintain respect for human dignity.
After a period of integration and professionalization of services, the time has now come to consolidate progress, modernize legislation, and strengthen cooperation both locally and internationally. The next phase in the development of mental health must focus on financial sustainability, quality of care, safety, and institutional coherence.
“Mental health affects our families, our community, our nurses, teachers, police officers, and our youth. This topic cannot be reduced to superficial debate, nor used as a political tool. It must be addressed with seriousness, continuity, and vision,” Kelly emphasized.
As a healthcare professional with practical experience and as a representative of the people, Dennerich Kelly reaffirmed his commitment to continue working toward a mental health system that is professional, humane, and sustainable, with prevention, cooperation, and good governance as its central foundations.
