Breaking down barriers to
mental health care in
Caribbean communities

In the Caribbean and worldwide, mental health disorders are recognized as the 5th major non-communicable disease in the 21st century. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2021), 1 in 4 people will be affected by a mental health disorder in their lifetime, and the greatest impact falls on those who live in poverty. Managing mental health concerns is almost impossible for the uninsured and underinsured, the people in our community who cannot afford the care they need and deserve. The lack of resources afforded to those living in poverty, coupled with the stressors associated with a long tradition of stigmatizing perceptions about mental illness, increases the likelihood that a person will experience difficulties managing their mental health. 

The Bush Tea & Therapy Foundation is a 501(c)3 private non-profit foundation founded in 2022 by Tarik & Tamara McMillan with an aim to improve access to care by directly funding counseling and community outreach services for members of the Virgin Islands community.  Whether you're from the Caribbean or of Caribbean descent, you know bush tea. Bush tea is a Caribbean staple, naturopathic healing rooted in tradition. Caribbean people have been brewing tea from indigenous herbs, roots, & bushes found in our backyards. As our culture shifts, we are making room for other forms of healing, including therapy, to address mental health challenges. Bush Tea & Therapy is an intentional effort to introduce therapy through a Caribbean lens - to create a healthier USVI. We are doing our part to contribute to the health & well-being of our community ...  because "one-one full ah basket".