SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Student Support Services Division of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport is holding a panel discussion that will take place at the University of St. Martin on Friday, October 24, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The panel discussion will focus on medical emergencies in schools and will be live streamed via the Facebook and YouTube pages of the Student Support Services Division. This event is part of SSSD’s School Safety week activities.

The goal of the panel discussion is to raise and strengthen awareness, promote shared responsibility and get varying perspectives on the topic. Members of the panel include the Ambulance Department, students, a parent and a Safety and Emergency team member.

We invite the public to join us online and to post any questions that they might have. Space is available for a limited number of people at USM, so if you are interested in attending in person, please contact SSSD at 5431235 and ask for Mr. Michel Chance.

The Student Support Services Division (SSSD) provides services to students referred by the schools such as psychological services, counseling services, social work services, educational diagnostic services, speech language pathology services. SSSD also provides general services such as career services, parent sessions/support groups and crisis response.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY, (DCOMM) – World Food Day (WFD) will be marked around the globe on Thursday, October 16 under the theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future.”

According to the United Nations (UN) Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), is calling for global collaboration in creating a peaceful, sustainable, prosperous, and food-secure future.

“By working together, across governments, organizations, sectors, and communities, we can transform agrifood systems to ensure that everyone has access to a healthy diet, living in harmony with the planet,” the FAO says.

FAO adds, Agrifood systems are facing unprecedented challenges. “Conflict, the impacts of extreme weather and climate events, economic shocks, and rising inequality are placing mounting pressure on the land we farm, the water we depend on, and the biodiversity that supports life. Supply chains remain fragile, and the effects of disruption are being felt in homes, markets, and fields around the world.”

In some places, the severity of food insecurity is overwhelming. An estimated 673 million people world-wide are living with hunger. Elsewhere, rising levels of obesity and widespread food waste point to a system out of balance—where abundance and absence coexist, often side by side, the FAO pointed out.

Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, as part of its annual public health calendar of observances, in connection with World Food Day, households are reminded to consume a diversity of nutritious foods on a daily basis.

CPS reminds the community that healthy diets are diverse, balanced in energy, and adequate to meet nutrient needs, along with wasting less, and helping to protect the soil, water, and biodiversity that make food possible.

CPS adds that there is a critical link between sustainability, healthy eating and national public health resilience. Unhealthy diets are one of the leading preventable risk factors for non-communicable diseases. Prevention is paramount.

CPS appeals to every resident and every institution—from schools to supermarkets—to actively choose and promote nutritious food systems. A sustainable diet is not just about what is available, but what we consume daily. It’s about eating more locally sourced produce, choosing whole grains over processed foods, and limiting excess sugar and sodium.

CPS advises consumers to read the label and to actively check food labels for sugar, salt, and fat content to make informed purchasing decisions.

Promote the establishment of community and backyard gardens to increase access to fresh, affordable produce and reduce reliance on imported goods.

The choices we make every day shape the world we live in. #Nourishing Our Future

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) – On Friday, October 10, 2025, to mark World Mental Health Day, the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Richinel Brug released the following statement:

Mental Health lives in our homes, our communities, and in the quiet moments we all face.

Over the years, our resilience has been tested. The devastation of Hurricane Irma and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic left lasting impacts—not just on our economy and infrastructure, but on our hearts and minds.

But beyond these major events, many among us continue to face daily battles. The pressure of making ends meet, the struggle to put food on the table, the weight of trying to provide a better future for our children—all of these take a toll.

And for our single parents, many of whom carry these burdens alone, the emotional and mental strain can be overwhelming. We see you. We hear you. And we are working to build a system that supports you—not just in crisis, but every day.

As Minister of Public Health, I have placed mental health high on the Ministry’s agenda. Our goal is clear: to make mental health care more accessible, to reduce stigma, and to create a culture where seeking help is seen as a sign of strength—not weakness.

Take a moment for yourself. Check in with a friend. Be kind—to yourself and to others. Our strength as a country lies in how we care for one another.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY, (DCOMM) – Friday 10 October marks World Mental Health Day around the world under the theme, “Mental health in humanitarian emergencies.”

World Mental Health Day serves as a powerful reminder that there is no health without mental health, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday. This year’s campaign focuses on the urgent need to support the mental health and psychosocial needs of people affected by humanitarian emergencies.

Globally, crises such as natural disasters, conflicts, and public health emergencies cause emotional distress, with one in five individuals experiencing a mental health condition. Supporting the mental well-being of individuals during such crises is not just important – it saves lives, gives people the strength to cope, the space to heal and to recover and rebuild not only as individuals but as communities.

Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well, and work well, and contribute to their community. Mental health is a basic human right.

According to the WHO, “That’s why it is essential for everyone, including government officials, health and social care providers, school staff and community groups to come together. By working hand in hand, we can ensure the most vulnerable have access to the support they need while protecting the well-being of everyone.

“By investing in evidence and community-based interventions, we can address immediate mental health needs, foster long-term recovery, and empower people and communities to rebuild their lives and thrive.

“On this World Mental Health Day, let us intensify our efforts to create a world where mental health is valued, protected, and accessible for all, especially in the face of adversity,” the WHO appealed on the occasion of World Mental Health Day.

Mental health is a universal human right underscoring the importance of ensuring everyone has the right to access quality mental health care and support.

Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department from the Sint Maarten Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, says creating awareness about mental health is part of CPS’ annual calendar of health observances.

For persons who need support, the Sint Maarten Mental Health Organization (MHF) provides psychiatric care services to the population of the country. Its mission includes prevention to mitigate as much as possible the negative impact of mental disorders on individual’s wellbeing and on society.

For general information on mental health issues, you can call 542-1677 or for a mental health crisis, you can call the crisis line 585-5556 which will be answered by a professional and it’s confidential.

For more information, you can call CPS 542-1570 or 914.