The Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute could close within ten years as services are moved into the community, according to a new long-term plan for the centre published yesterday.

The Bermuda Hospitals Board has published a five-year strategy for Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute services and goals include moving outpatient and long-term care into the community, as well as placing acute inpatient mental health services at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital in Paget.

The BHB announced it intended to be in a position to close down the MWI site by 2031.

Other goals are for the patient-centred recovery model to be part of MWI services, prioritising services according to a needs-based approach, and to “challenge the stigma and discrimination associated with MWI services”.

The five-year strategy covers mental health, intellectual disability and substance use services.

Anna Nielson, the acting chief of psychiatry, said moving outpatient services to the community meant easier access without having to visit MWI.

She said the process began last year when mental health services were offered at the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre and the Hamilton Medical Centre on Victoria Street, as well as a community intellectual disability team supporting clients at home.

Moving acute mental health services to KEMH would allow for “separate, purpose built units, but on the same campus allowing for better support and co-operation between the two services", she added.

Preston Swan, the acting chief operating officer and vice-president of clinical operations at MWI, said a promotional campaign was under way in partnership with Public Health England and the British mental health charity Mind aimed at ending the stigma associated with mental illness.