Wheatley warns of emerging mental health crisis in the BVI
Labour Minister Vincent Wheatley has put in stark perspective the social dilemma of waning mental health that confronts persons currently facing severe economic challenges locally because of the pandemic.
“My biggest concern is persons buckling under the financial pressure right now,” Wheatley said during a JTV News interview recently.
According to the legislator, more than a million dollars in requests have come to his office from persons in need of financial assistance.
Wheatley, who stated that the government did not have the money to meet those requests, instead recommended a spiritual remedy for those affected by the psychological pressure.
According to the Labour Minister, a message of hope needs to be preached territory-wide to avert what may potentially be a mental health crisis in the BVI.
“If you take that away, if you don’t preach hope in the churches, and hope in the House of Assembly and hope anywhere, we’re going to start losing persons — some through stress, but some through suicide,” he warned.
Wheatley said some persons may see no end in sight to their current dire economic situation and decide to just “end it here now”.
He said the pressure is real, especially given since some established persons in the community are having to come to terms with the reality of losing their property and savings.
Wheatley said they might be saying about themselves: “I cannot deal with the exposure. I cannot deal with what I’m going to say when they find out I’m broke, what they’re going to say when they find out I’m losing my house to the bank, what they’re going to say when they find out I can’t pay my bills and my light is being cut. So they decide to just take their own life.”
“That’s a serious concern of mine – mental health of the community right now,” Wheatley added. “When you see those kinds of persons coming forward, and they have to face the humility … that concerns me.”
Earlier this year, it was reported that more than 1,700 persons have lost jobs since the pandemic forced the closure of the territory’s borders in March 2020.
Wheatley also said the way to solve the economic problem being faced is to open up the economy. He touted the government’s vaccine rollout as an expeditious way of achieving this goal.
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Because of your peanuthead self and your government….y all driving YOUR OWN people mental SMH
Well said Mr. Wheathley and the recent gambling bill that you guys just passed will only add to more suicide and other stress related deaths…. UNLESS WE PRAY. Trust me on that.
He should know because he is the one always coming up with these crazy policies to hurt people are not from the BVi.
You causing it!!! You separating families!!!
BVI needs to open up to tourism. Covid test before coming in and then come in no additional tests no quarantine. Stop with the mask and distancing. The mask are cause you to inhale germs every time you breath. Complete fraud by CDC and others.
The VIP is sure gonna turn us crazy if we dont remove them from office
YOU ARE CAUSING THIS!! FROM YOU COME INTO POWER THE MENTAL RATE WHEN UP, YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM …. STOP SEPERATING FAMILIES
Open up the borders so we can do business again. VIP wants to increase port fees, increase taxes and take away our ability to run our shops and businesses. They are slowly killing the territory as they put their hands in the cookie jar.
‘Hope’ buys you everything right? LOL 😉 Preach it in the churches, and on the streets because after all that, and when you get home, you’ll have job, your bills will be paid, and your bank account back to pre-Covid levels.
HOW ABOUT A LITTLE MORE SUBSTANCE, AND LOT LESS TALK!
Meanwhile the HOA pad themselves with extras, health insurance, payments, collect your monthly checks, etc.
And you are a part of the problem, so you know exactly what you are talking about. But every bara hog have it’s Saturday….
Really Hon. Wheatley? I don’t have the words anymore…..
Feel the same way, I am burned out, just thinking about it makes me exhausted.
Only now YOU ARE WAKING UP FROM YOUR SLUMBER AND REALIZE THIS SIR? GO HOME YOU ARE EXCUSED FOR THE DAY.
HELP IS ON THE WAY!
HOLD ON MY PEOPLE!
Open back the country and stop with the restrictive policies.
No, Honourable Wheatley you are not concern about the people’s mental health challenges. You had 15 months to set social and mental health programs in place for those most affected. You talked about a spiritual remedy is the same as telling people to not take the vaccine instead drink bush tea and sit in the sun as a cure for covid-19.
We are praying. What good is it to have a spiritual renewal with the likes of CSC when people are hungry and on the verge of having mental health episodes?
Yes, I am a believer of God, and I also know that God fed his believers. God fed 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish (Matthew 14: 13-21). How about the pastors feeding and assisting with rent to their congregants who have paid tithes (10 percent)?
Doesn’t the BVI have money in reserve for emergencies? Well, this is an emergency. If so, please use part of that reserve to help the people. Because the problem will get worse, on top of covid-19 and a failing economy if people start to commit suicide or homicide to code with their problems.
Also, the BVI government needs an experienced spoke person instead of having these ministers talk daily. Every time I read an article with one of these ministers, I fully understand why the COI is here and why the government needs experienced leaders.
Mental illness has always been here and keep growing for a variety of reasons including your VIP government.
Because thè dysfunctional present government is contributing to it. I’m SO TIRED OF THEM!!!
They sending us crazy and then turning around and saying that we have mental issues. I don’t understand this one at all.
That for the good laugh.
The government advising everyone to search for a ‘spiritual remedy’ Oh yeah!! How will that fill hungry bellies and pay the rent, utilities and other expenses. Do I hear govt ministers helping the disadvantaged with donations from their fat salaries??????????!!!!!!!!
Except when it comes to Covid then where they faith? Run to pharmakeia. Sacrifice a 27 year old healthy man and how much more of your population to your gods of Pharmakeia for a little false security?
Think about the poor Commissioner, Sir Gary Higginbottom; he must be going barmy listening to all the nonsense he has heard so far. He must think he’s been admitted to Ward 8.
@ Resident
Lmao. Poor man. I wonder what is going through his head after dealing with these mumoooos.
Vincent Wheatley, You said that the government doesn’t have the money to answer the people’s needs, What happened to the 40 million that was supposed to help the people? The only hope the people have in these Virgin Islands is for the UK to take us over until the next election and ban all of you from running again for office.
Millions wasted on various schemes, and the people are losing their homes and businesses and can’t pay bills or put food on the table. I pray the COI turns up only a ton of the many tonnes of corruption and steps in to deliver the people of the BVI who got only a few groceries to help, 1 year and 3 months ago. We are devastated and hate how our government forgot the general population of the BVI to pander to their friends and family.
Best thing for the BVI is a complete take over by the UK, and then hopefully those suffering home loss and inability to pay their bills and feed their families will finally get some relief. God is good and as you so you shall reap. And our Almighty God is a prayer answering God.
You are definitely an imperialist to the core and all its implications. Mankind is now in the 21st not the 16th or 17th century.
Also, you clearly think that BVIslanders are less than human, have no human rights, and should therefore be perpetually dominated and ruled by their colonialist terrorist and enslavers.
Be informed, we have rights, and we are not animals of a lesser god.
Delusions of privilege is a uniquely European trait.
Morons for Myron is on a mission to distort the message.
If it was NDP in power half the population would have been already DEAD!
Online blogger want to crucify VIP for 2 years and they had 8 doing bull crap.
VIP did more in 2 years compare to what NDP did in 8 and the best is yet to come so you morons for Myron and Marlon keep typing your fingers off.
Dead from what? COVID has been around going on 18 months and the common flu has killed far more people in that same timeframe. How many people have died in the Caribbean Region from COVID in that time, compared to the number that would usually die pre-Covid? They say we are in a global pandemic yet the death rate globally dropped sharply in 2020.
@JUAN PING, VIP TOOK A LOT OF WHAT NDP DID AND STARTED AND TOOK THE CREDIT. VIP MUST GO FOR THE SAKE OF THE COUNTRY. UNDER VIP, WE ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE STRESSED OUT EACH DAY. IF NHI IS GOOD FOR US, NHI IS GOOD FOR THEM. WE WILL NOT ACCEPT THE GREEDY BILL.
It got to be you that Vincent was talking about with mental
Issues. Look at the stupidness you just sit down to type.
NDP took BVI out of the blacklist, do you know what achievement is that? But I must agree with you VIP is working very hard to blacklist this country again! That will be more achievement for you to brag about!
Yep, you are absolutely right!1 Bravo
The first government to spend millions upon millions of dollars on questionable and non-important projects, in a pandemic, a slowed economy, and some who are in genuine need of assistance are ignored.
Te first government in BVI history to garner the dubious distinction of being woefully corrupt.
The first government in BVI history to have at least one of members boast, during the campaign, the he is going in to fill his pockets, because others before him did the same.
If one can be so brazen to voice such on social media, get elected, should the public not think thatneferious corruption and self enrichment is not going on?
Meanwhile, it is a human fact that every human has a natural inclination to steal, be dishonest and corrupt, when given the opportunity.
However, our ruling party, from campaign to governance, started out with bad politics. They are our people, friends and family members, hence, some reform needs to occur if the perception of them being ultra corrupt is to change.
They can do that by reestablishing the notion that politcs and political office is to assist and take care of the people, all the people, not just a few for political expediency.
Not lost on us however, this is the only government in history to achieve such great lack of confidence in just two short years.
Dont forget to menshion emerging vaccine deaths.Please tell this honarable house how much emerging vaccine deaths the bvi had since the roll out.Bring out the autopsies and stop covering up with medical terms.God is watching.
Only one Covid death which wouldn’t have happened but for the lockdown so it’s actually a death caused by the first lockdown.
How many deaths by vaccines? I know of at least 3 deaths after vaccines that should be investigated. And you are still pushing the poison and not taking the whole truth.
Now if we have deaths by suicide because of the crucified economy then that’s even blood on the governments hands.
Run some antibody tests. We know Covid has made its rounds. Declare Natural immunity to those who have antibodies or T cells and boost our “herd immunity” ratings.
Stop discriminating and rewarding the vaccine takers when much of your population has God-given antibodies acquired the natural way. Please wake up!
None is the answer you dumb cluck.
I just looked at the form that all those coming to BVI have to fill in. That alone would give you mental health problems.
I gave up after page 5 of pointless repetitive demands and we will now be going somewhere else.
You are all crazy.
I am headed elsewhere. To much red tape.
Mental health is real. My people do all you can to love yourself and lead a peaceful life.
Find someone to speak with if feeling isolated and overwhelmed!
Be willing to start over when your old life changes drastically!
I am passionate about mental health, my people take care of one another!
One $million? That’s .5% of gov rev. Tell me what those dollars follow out the door? Probably over 1 mill on useless bodyguards and hoa travel alone. Could have serviced the vulnerable at home and opened the economy earlier, but y’all realize (stamp duty vacation) that bringing BVI to its knees is better business for your pals.
@JUAN PING, All the VIP did for 2 years is fight with the UK and the Governor.
YOU ARE A MAJOR GERM IN THIS SOCIETY, NO BRAIN! YOU GO TO BED EVERY NIGHT TO PONDER HOW TO HURT EXPATRIATES AND THROW THEM OUT! THEY ARE THE ONES WHO BUILT THIS GODDAM PLACE! YOU AND YOUR GOVERNMENT MENTALITY IS PURE UNGRATEFUL AND DISGUSTING! IT STRIKE YO NOW? PEOPLE’S CRIES WOULD NT FALL ON DEAF EARS..GOD IS WATCHING!! YOU ARE DESTROYING THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE AND YOUR OWN PEOPLE.
What hope can we find when the banks are constantly calling and threatening foreclosure. Other bills to pay and groceries to buy with the ridiculous prices these supermarkets are imposing on us all. The strongest of us are beginning to lose sleep wondering where the next dollar will come from. It’s a monthly dilemma. Not blaming it on Government but we have to be realistic. It’s really difficult for a lot.
dead people for vaccine? in bvi? unnmmmm and nobody say nothing oh god!!! wellsahhhh
This “Spiritual Remedy” would also work for elected legislators so there is no need for private insurance or increased benefits. Let’s all hold hands nad pray for good health and Prosperity for all of us
If you were truly concerned about the mental health of our people, Mr. Wheatley, you would have made the tourism aspect of reopening, soo much easier!
You would have also made it possible for BVIslanders wanting to do business AND work in the USVI much more easier!
You would have also provided relief, so that US Virgin Islanders having wanting to do business in the BVI, so much easier. Soooo many of us would have LOOVED to spend money in the BVI, but we’re blocked because of rules and regulations!
Too many rules, and no substance!
It’s just a shame!
Cubans run BVI later on your salaries Will be five bucjs
Wheatley need to shut up and let Mental Health Experts make medical statements.
The mental health of many took a turn for the worst beginning with advent of covid and the extended lock downs.
Many developed such issues and are currently still struggling with them. Indeed, the economic/financial factor contributed to exacerbating those issues.Who lives with the pathology daily knows it.
This why government and district representatives need to be more emphathically assistive to those who are seeking financial assistance for any cause.