U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — The Virgin Islands Department of Health recognizes the growing concern among residents regarding access to behavioral and mental health services in the Territory. Behavioral health, which encompasses mental health, is a critical public health issue, and the Department takes seriously its responsibility to ensure that care is delivered in a manner that is effective, lawful, and centered on patient safety.
Behavioral health is the umbrella term that includes mental wellness, substance use, stress management, and healthy coping behaviors. Mental illness is a part of behavioral health, referring specifically to diagnosable conditions that may require clinical treatment.
Providing inpatient mental health treatment is complex and requires not only appropriate facilities, but also sustained clinical staffing, specialized security, licensing, and compliance with federal and territorial standards. While plans to construct a local inpatient mental health treatment facility were previously explored, escalating construction and costs and broader infrastructure demands required the Government to reassess how best to allocate limited public resources while continuing to meet immediate patient care needs.
At present, the Department delivers mental health services through a combination of community-based care, outpatient treatment, crisis intervention activation as needed by other government agencies, and off-island inpatient placements when clinically necessary. Individuals requiring long-term or forensic inpatient treatment are placed in accredited facilities outside the Territory to ensure access to appropriate levels of care, specialized treatment programs, and patient safety. These placements are made pursuant to court orders and medical necessity and are monitored by the Department.
In addition to clinic-based services, the Department’s Behavioral Health Division conducts ongoing community outreach and early intervention through mobile services, including the use of its behavioral health outreach vehicles commonly known as “Zen Vans.” The department’s Zen Vans are used to support public health education, mental wellness outreach, and early engagement at schools and in neighborhoods across the Territory, helping to connect individuals and families with appropriate services before crises escalate.
Funding received by the VI Department of Health from the Epstein-related settlement has been used in accordance with legal and financial requirements to support behavioral health services. To date, the department has been allocated $6.9 million from the Mental Health Survivors Fund, which has allowed the Department to continue providing care for Virgin Islands residents who require inpatient mental health treatment while longer-term infrastructure solutions are evaluated.
The Department acknowledges the public’s interest in understanding how funds are used and how services are delivered. The department continues to be committed to improving communication and transparency regarding behavioral health programs, expenditures, and future planning. Work continues to strengthen community-based services, expand outpatient and crisis response capacity, and assess feasible options for enhancing local behavioral health infrastructure.
Mental health care is not optional—it is essential. The Department remains focused on balancing immediate patient needs with long-term planning, while ensuring that services are clinically appropriate, fiscally responsible, and delivered with dignity and compassion.
The Department of Health welcomes continued dialogue with community members, healthcare partners, and policymakers as we work collectively to improve behavioral and mental health services across the Territory.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that residents receive appropriate care today while we plan responsibly for the future,” said Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion. “That requires honesty about challenges, transparency about funding, and a commitment to continuous improvement.”