Source : Loop
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is set to launch a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Programme aimed at equipping youth directors, development workers, and leaders with essential skills to support young people facing emotional and mental health challenges.
This initiative comes as part of CARICOM’s ongoing efforts to address mental health issues among the region’s youth population.
Michele Small-Bartley, Programme Manager for Youth Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, emphasised the programme’s significance. “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,” she stated.
The MHFA Programme will run for six weeks, commencing in September 2024. It will be offered free of charge to participants, reflecting CARICOM’s commitment to accessible mental health resources.
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.
Targeting youth directors, officers, and leaders across CARICOM member states, the programme will provide participants with the tools and knowledge to become effective first responders in mental health situations.
This initiative is particularly crucial for supporting young people who may be in greater need of attention but reluctant to seek professional help.
Small-Bartley expressed enthusiasm for the potential impact of the programme. “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,” she stated.
The MHFA Programme is part of CARICOM’s ongoing efforts to build capacity among Caribbean youth. It follows two successful initiatives earlier this year.
In April 2024, CARICOM collaborated with the Pan American Health Organisation’s (PAHO) Climate Change and Health Project (CCH), engaging CARICOM Youth Ambassadors (CYAs) and regional youth leaders in knowledge sharing to effect change on climate change and health issues.
Subsequently, in July 2024, CYAs benefitted from enhanced skills in advocacy for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) during a CYA-CSME Attachment Programme.
Invitations to participate in the MHFA Programme have been shared with ministries responsible for youth development across the region, with a particular focus on youth directors and officers.
CARICOM encourages all eligible individuals to take advantage of this valuable opportunity to enhance their skills in supporting youth mental health.
For more information about the CARICOM Mental Health First Aid Programme, interested parties are encouraged to contact their local ministry responsible for youth affairs or the CARICOM Secretariat directly.