Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (COMHSA) is a counseling and psychiatric rehabilitation center that caters to persons with mental illness, substance abuse and behavioral issues.

The participation of the community in the delivery of mental health services is important. The early identification and treatment of mental disorders requires the health sector to work collaboratively with departments and agencies representing areas such as community services, child and family services, aged care, housing, and the legal system.

The partnerships forged serve to empower the community to be proactive in attending to their mental health and wellness.  The success of the services hinges on sustainable and consistent progression of programs.  If we can dedicate the necessary resources, support and commitment to the development of the service, we can significantly reduce the burden society will have to bear as a result of chronic mental illness becoming endemic in our society.

In January 2015 Community Mental Health and the Sandy Lane drug Rehabilitative Services merged creating Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.  The unit is within the Primary Health, Community Health Services Department in the British Virgin Islands Health Services Authority.

The Services’ primary mandate is the provision of mental health and drug rehabilitative services to the people of the Virgin Islands. As such, it receives referrals from a broad cross section of agencies and the general public for persons with mental illness, substance abuse and behavioral issues.