Caribbean youth lead mental health fight amid climate concerns

As hurricanes, floods and other climate-related disasters become more frequent and intense across the Caribbean, children and young people are taking the lead in protecting the mental health and resilience of their peers.

In collaboration with UNICEF and regional partners, 42 young co-authors from 23 countries and territories have contributed to Young Caribbean Minds Volume 2: A Climate Change, Natural Disasters & Mental Health Game & Activity Book. The publication, launched at a regional symposium in late May during Mental Health Awareness Month offers creative, child-friendly tools to support emotional wellbeing in the face of climate stress and crisis.

Using art, colouring and interactive exercises, the resource helps children strengthen their mental health and learn practical coping skills. Many of the authors, some as young as nine years old, drew directly from their own experiences living through natural disasters, violence and other challenges.

The launch event was supported by the Government of Barbados, the Pan-American Health Organization, Let’s Unpack It, and a coalition of regional bodies including the OECS, The University of the West Indies, CDEMA, CYEN, and the Healthy Caribbean Coalition.

Bertrand Moses, UNICEF Child Protection Officer, who led the development of the first volume, said the second edition was inspired by his work in shelters following Hurricane Beryl in Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

“As I was moving through the shelters and interacting with children, a young girl asked if there was anything they could use to write and draw,” he recalled. “I started thinking — we need something that helps prepare young people for disasters, before, during and after, and for the changing climate around us and its impact on their mental health. That’s how this resource came to be.”

At the launch, Davidson Ishmael, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, urged young people to challenge harmful stigma around mental health. “I want us to get to the stage in Barbados where young people drive the conversation. When we hear things that aren’t helpful, we must raise our voices, challenge the assumptions and the phrasing, and bring change to our culture.”

David Johnsonm, President of Let's UnPack It added: “Mental health is an integral part of our overall wellbeing. We need to do more to secure the rights of every child and young person to mental health and wellbeing.”

From a youth engagement perspective, Reginald Burke, Executive Coordinator of CYEN, highlighted the significance of the new resource. “The Caribbean cannot meaningfully address the challenges of climate change and disasters without engaging its young citizens. If we are serious about resilience, young people must play a vital role. Mental health is often a taboo subject, but it is critically important. The stresses of living through hurricanes, droughts or floods can deeply affect children. Young Caribbean Minds is a powerful tool that helps young people understand the climate crisis and its impact on mental health and wellbeing.”

Countries represented in the project include Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos.

The resource is available online at youngcaribbeanminds.com and is freely accessible to children, educators, caregivers and communities across the region.

This story was first published to the website of UNICEF Eastern Caribbean.