MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS NOT ENTERTAINMENT: ROSAN SLAMS VIDEO SHARING

Independent At-Large candidate Rosemary Rosan has issued a sharp rebuke to residents who shared a video showing a young woman experiencing a mental health crisis, urging the Virgin Islands community to treat such moments with dignity rather than ridicule.

In a statement titled "Mental Health Is Not a Spectator Sport," Rosan said the circulation of the video reflects a troubling culture of stigma and disrespect. "Behind that video is a human being. A daughter. A sister. A friend. Someone who deserves dignity, compassion, privacy and care," she said.

Rosan stressed that mental health crises should never become public entertainment. "A mental health crisis is not entertainment. It is not an opportunity for ridicule, commentary or public judgment. It is a moment when someone may be in desperate need of help," she stated.

She called on residents to resist the urge to record and share footage of people in distress, and instead offer assistance. Rosan also warned that public shaming undermines efforts to encourage people to seek professional help, creating a paradox where individuals are discouraged from getting care precisely because they fear public exposure.

"Mental health challenges are not a measure of a person's character, intelligence or worth," Rosan said.

Beyond individual behaviour, Rosan argued the Territory must examine its mental health infrastructure. She raised questions about whether services are sufficiently accessible, whether emergency responders receive adequate training in de-escalation and crisis management, and whether families and caregivers have the support they need.

Rosan called for improved access to professional care, greater investment in early intervention, better crisis response systems, and education aimed at reducing stigma among young people. She said the Territory must address both public attitudes and the systems intended to support those affected.

Directing her message to the young woman at the centre of the incident and others struggling privately, Rosan said: "You are not your worst moment." She concluded by calling for a Virgin Islands where individuals in mental health crises are met with compassion and meaningful support rather than humiliation.