About bullying
Bullying at school or online can cause anxiety, isolation, low mood and school refusal. Psychological support helps the child or teenager and the family, and professionals can coordinate with the school. If there is immediate risk, involve the school and, if needed, the authorities.
Psychotherapists are professionals trained in one or more models of psychotherapy (psychodynamic, systemic, humanistic, cognitive-behavioural…). The protected title and requirements vary by country; profiles show each professional’s training and registration.
Getting mental health care in Sint Maarten
Public health system · Mental Health Foundation (MHF), funded mainly through SZV Social and Health Insurances
The Mental Health Foundation provides outpatient clinic care, day treatment, guided living, crisis intervention and an admission ward, with psychiatrists and psychologists on staff. It relies mainly on SZV and other insurers for funding since government subsidy ended in 2015. SZV also contracts private-practice psychologists, so SZV-insured patients can be covered for assessment and therapy.
How to check that a professional is licensed
- Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA); Dutch BIG register as reference. Sint Maarten has no national register of its own yet; a draft National Ordinance on a Healthcare Professionals Registry was completed in 2026 but is not in force. Doctors have generally been required to be BIG-registered, and you can check Dutch BIG registration of psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists online. Search the official register
Insurance and coverage
SZV has care contracts with private psychologists and with the Mental Health Foundation, so SZV-insured people can be covered for psychological assessment and therapy.
Urgent help in Sint Maarten
If your life or someone else's is in danger, call the emergency number now. These services can help at any time:
- 912 · Ambulance
Information reviewed in November 2026 · Sources: thedailyherald.sx, thedailyherald.sx, sintmaartengov.org, thedailyherald.sx
Signs to look out for
Bullying is repeated, intentional harm by others, whether physical, verbal, social exclusion or online. Signs in a child or teenager may include not wanting to go to school, unexplained injuries or damaged belongings, changes in mood or sleep, headaches or stomach aches, dropping grades, losing friends, or becoming anxious after using their phone. Many young people do not tell adults straight away.
What helps: treatments and professionals
Effective responses combine action at school, with whole-school anti-bullying programmes and clear protocols, and emotional support for the young person. Psychologists, child and adolescent psychologists and educational psychologists can help with anxiety, low mood, self-esteem and social skills, often using cognitive-behavioural approaches. Family guidance helps parents respond calmly. Support may also be offered to those who bully.
When to seek urgent help
Contact your local emergency services if a child or teenager has been seriously assaulted, is being threatened with violence, or expresses thoughts of suicide or self-harm, which should always be taken seriously. Seek urgent help too when there is sexual harassment, extortion or sharing of intimate images online, and keep evidence such as screenshots.
What you can do in the meantime
Listen calmly, believe the young person and tell them it is not their fault. Avoid confronting the other child or family directly; instead, document what happened and contact the school to agree on a plan. Help them stay connected to friends and activities outside school. Review privacy settings together for online bullying, and keep checking in regularly.
What does a psychotherapist do?
A psychotherapist helps people understand and change emotional, relational and behavioural patterns through a structured therapeutic relationship. Their work is shaped by one or more models, such as cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic, systemic, humanistic or integrative therapy. They meet individuals, couples, families or groups, usually in regular sessions, and spend time outside sessions on notes, preparation and their own supervision.
When to see a psychotherapist
Psychotherapy suits people who want to work in depth on recurring difficulties: anxiety, low mood, relationship patterns, self-esteem, the effects of past experiences or major life transitions. It can also help when you feel stuck without a clear diagnosis. If you need a formal diagnosis, a specific psychological assessment or medication, a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist may need to be involved.
How to choose
When choosing, check the licence and training, the approach they use and whether they have experience with what you need. Consider practical aspects too: language, price, location or online sessions and availability. The relationship with the professional matters a great deal; if after a few sessions it does not feel right, it is fine to change.
Frequently asked questions
Does the public health system in Sint Maarten cover psychological care?
The Mental Health Foundation provides outpatient clinic care, day treatment, guided living, crisis intervention and an admission ward, with psychiatrists and psychologists on staff. It relies mainly on SZV and other insurers for funding since government subsidy ended in 2015. SZV also contracts private-practice psychologists, so SZV-insured patients can be covered for assessment and therapy.
How do I check that a psychotherapist is licensed in Sint Maarten?
Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA); Dutch BIG register as reference: Sint Maarten has no national register of its own yet; a draft National Ordinance on a Healthcare Professionals Registry was completed in 2026 but is not in force. Doctors have generally been required to be BIG-registered, and you can check Dutch BIG registration of psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists online.