A United Nations Children’s Fund survey has revealed that seven out of ten young people in the Caribbean are experiencing mental health challenges linked to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The finding was highlighted during the Ministry of Health’s U Matter launch on Tuesday.
U Matter is a 24/7 mental health support service that is being shared via WhatsApp. It is designed specifically for people aged 15 to 29.
Child Protection Officer at the United Nations Children’s Fund Office in the Caribbean, Dr Maryam Abdu, shared some alarming statistics at the launch of the Ministry of Health’s U Matter chatbot.
“According to the World Health Organization, 50% of mental illnesses begin by the age of 14. That’s very young, right? And a 2024 U-Report survey – U-Report is a platform that is used by UNICEF to get feedback from young people – shows that children and youth in the Caribbean reveal that about 75% of the respondents felt the need to ask for mental health support.”
The Ministry’s Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Priya Laloo, shared some local figures.
“The STEP survey of the 2024 country report paints a sobering picture of the mental health challenges we face. The report found that 13.6% of the population is, in fact, living with depression, with the highest prevalence among our young adults aged 18 to 29.”
The Head of the Department of Behavioural Sciences at The UWI, St. Augustine, Dr Talia Esnard said the U Matter messaging service is expected to help address this issue.
“This service provides an opportunity for young people to engage at their convenience via the use of texting or the use of a text line with locally trained volunteers in real-time, in crisis support situations, to get the mental health referrals, whether it be online resources, in-person services or really just a referral to a trained professional to help them in coping with a crisis that they may be experiencing.”
Coordinator of the Steering Committee for the initiative, Dr Kadisha Khan, shared the rationale behind the creation of the chatbot.
“For many people, we’ve heard stigma and fear of exposure remain powerful barriers to seeking help. The assurance, however, that they can speak freely without judgement, without having to disclose their identity, is what allows them to open up. In this U Matter text space, anonymity is not a limitation. It’s a liberation. It creates a space where support can be accessed.”