CARICOM to equip youth practitioners and leaders with mental health first-aid skills

Equipping youth directors, persons working in youth development and youth leaders with the necessary skills to become first responders and assist youth in navigating emotional and mental health challenges is the focus of the CARICOM Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Programme.

According to Michele Small-Bartley, Programme Manager for Youth Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, the programme will provide these professionals with the tools and knowledge to effectively support young people, particularly those who may be in greater need of attention and are hesitant to seek professional mental health services. By building the capacity of youth directors, workers and leaders, the Region can ultimately foster healthier and more resilient communities.

“Our goal is to prepare and empower our youth directors, youth officers and youth leaders across the Community to recognise and address the needs of these individuals, ensuring that those in need receive the care and guidance they require,” stated the Programme Manager.

The MHFA Programme is free and will be delivered over six (6) weeks, commencing in September 2024.  Ms. Small-Bartley explained that the programme will be experiential, with a strong emphasis on a hands-on approach and fieldwork to ensure participants learn and apply the knowledge and skills in real-world situations.

An invitation to participate in the programme was shared with the ministries responsible for youth development, particularly the youth directors and officers.  “We look forward to active participation from the Region’s youth stakeholders in this initiative. The Secretariat is excited about MFHA’s potential positive impact on youth and effectively preparing our communities to navigate mental health challenges,” stated Ms. Small-Bartley.

This initiative is the Secretariat’s third intervention this year aimed at building the capacity of Caribbean youth. In April, CARICOM Youth Ambassadors (CYAs) and regional youth leaders were engaged in knowledge sharing to effect change on climate change and health issues through a collaboration with the Secretariat and the Pan American Health Organisation’s (PAHO) Climate Change and Health Project (CCH). CYAs also benefitted from enhanced skills in advocacy for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) during a CYA-CSME Attachment Programme in July.