Most of the patients who presented with deliberate self-harm were females (64%), single (82%) and unemployed (72%). Overdose of medication was the main method of harm. There was a significant association between reason for self-harm and psychiatric illness.

Male cannabis users presenting with psychotic disorders may not achieve optimal therapeutic benefit within seven days of chlorpromazine equivalent doses ≤ 300 mg.

There is a high prevalence of depression among patients with chronic illnesses admitted to the medical wards of the University Hospital of the West Indies. Greater attention should be directed to psychiatric evaluations in the care and treatment of these patients.

Authors deconstruct the core elements of the Caribbean Institute on Alcoholism and Other Drug Problems (CARIAD) training programme to demonstrate how it effectively meets the characteristics of a community of practice. The processes used to develop the learning community, and the pedagogic strategies and techniques that foster collaborative knowledge construction and sharing are described.