In a forward-looking address during the 2025 Budget Debate on 17th December 2024, Minister of State for Youth Empowerment, Senator Isalean Phillip, announced plans to expand the Department of Youth Empowerment’s mental health awareness campaign throughout the upcoming year. The initiative, which follows the success of Youth Month 2024, will build on the momentum generated by the theme, “Mental Health Matters for Youth Development and Sustainability.”
The Growing Concern of Youth Mental Health
Senator Phillip emphasised that mental health has become a pressing concern among young people, noting that they are increasingly voicing their concerns about the challenges they face. “It’s an area that they bring up in conversations, and I think that we should be concerned because they are concerned about it,” she stated, highlighting the significance of addressing mental health issues within the nation’s youth.
The minister pointed out that many young people in St. Kitts and Nevis are experiencing feelings of trauma, anger, and depression due to their life circumstances. With anxiety about their future and financial independence also prevalent, these emotions are compounded by the broader instability of the world around them.
“Our young people are not isolated. They know what’s happening in the world, and they are facing their own bouts of depression, anxiety, and fear,” Minister Phillip remarked. Despite the many challenges, she acknowledged the positive youth role models who continue to lead and inspire, asserting that her ministry remains dedicated to supporting and amplifying these efforts.
Concerning Statistics on Youth Protection
Minister Phillip also shared concerning figures from the Department of Probation and Child Protection Services, revealing 177 cases of child protection issues up to the third quarter of 2024. These include neglect, physical abuse, sexual assault, and suicide ideation, among others. Such statistics paint a troubling picture of the difficulties facing young people in the country.
In response, the Minister called for a collective effort from all sectors of society to address these issues. “We have traumatised children becoming angry adolescents, angry adolescents becoming delinquent juveniles, and delinquent juveniles becoming adult criminals,” she said, urging the government and community members to come together in partnership to prevent the cycle of violence and crime.
A Unified Effort to Protect and Empower Youth
Minister Phillip reaffirmed her commitment to providing positive engagement opportunities for youth in St. Kitts and Nevis. Through a coordinated approach involving the government, community leaders, and citizens, the Minister believes the nation can tackle the root causes of youth disenchantment and foster a healthier, more resilient generation.
“We need a village approach,” she concluded, reinforcing the importance of community support in safeguarding the future of young people and providing them with the tools to thrive in an increasingly complex world.
The Department of Youth Empowerment’s mental health awareness campaign is set to gain further momentum in 2025, and with a strong focus on youth engagement, it aims to create a positive and sustainable change for the future.
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