The Cayman Islands’ new Long Term Residential Mental Health Facility (LTRMHF) is part of a continuum of mental health services fully funded by the Cayman Government Ministry of Health & Culture, targeting patients who are beyond the need for acute inpatient care. Envisioned to be a Therapeutic Farm Community, the new LTRMHF is an alternative to the traditional hospital. It is a safe, dignified, convivial, comforting treatment milieu located in a pastoral setting and designed to empower residents to become active participants in their recovery journey and the recovery of their peers.

Immediate upon arrival is a beautiful sand garden reminiscent of the Island’s famed Royal Botanical Gardens. Just beyond the garden is a generous breezeway that interconnects three facilities, one each for administration, dining and social therapy, around an open courtyard. Known as the village square, this cluster of buildings houses many critical functions including staff offices, exam room, counselling spaces, multi-purpose activity, meeting and class rooms, as well as a lobby-reception with coffee club and gift shop serviced by residents. Beyond the village square, embedded in the existing groves of trees is a suite of nine cottages, clustered into three groups of three. Each cottage accommodates 6 resident bedrooms with private washroom, a shared living room, breezeway, patio and garden. Walking trails connect residents with a variety of therapeutic amenities and light agriculture activities.

Here, residents engage in meaningful, shared work experiences, from gardening and animal care to cheese making and woodworking, as well as music and crafting along with psychiatric consultation, to strengthen their vocational skills, social aptitude, and emotional competency. This model has been demonstrated to improve medication compliance, reduce symptoms and relapses, impart job readiness and build self-esteem. It effectively increases residents’ chances of successful rehabilitation.

Montgomery Sisam in association with DDL Studio