The number of people seeking mental health support in Barbados has doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic, along with a sharp increase in cases of anxiety, depression and stress in young people, says Chief Medical Officer Dr The Most Honourable Kenneth George.
During the Suicide Prevention: A Conversation with Caribbean Youth hosted by Let’s UnPack It recently at the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) headquarters at Dayrells Road, Christ Church, George said that mental health challenges have worsened over time globally because of the pandemic.
Barbados’ suicide rate was 3.5 per 100 000 population, he stated, adding that “while the rates in Barbados were considered below the global average, one suicide was one too many”.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness took action to meet mental health demands by ensuring that related services, including pharmaceuticals, were available at all public clinics as well as modernising mental health legislation, he said, and the introduction of the 24-hour hotline, Lifeline Barbados, launched last year with support from PAHO.
“Between February 2024, up to the end of May 2025, the hotline received 6 572 calls. Forty per cent of the calls were from young persons age 18 years or younger. This highlights the need of young people to access mental health services that are affordable, accessible, and culturally sensitive,” he said.
He assured the ministry remained committed to the physical and mental health of the nation, especially the well-being of the youth and was willing to work alongside young people wherever possible.
President and founder of Let’s Unpack It, Dr David Johnson, urged individuals to show up for each other and take mental health seriously. He also advised them to avoid the mistake of presuming suicide prevention was Government and the Ministry of Health’s responsibility alone, but it should be embraced as a moral responsibility that fell on all.
“It starts with how we show up for each other, how we listen, how we notice changes, and how we respond when someone is hurting. I wish to challenge you to build strong communities of support, be present with your friends and family, and seize the awkward moments and difficult conversations. Yes, they can feel uncomfortable and unsettling, difficult conversations can save lives,” he said.
He noted that 720 000 lives were lost to suicide every year, with young people in the region being particularly vulnerable. He also stated that suicide was the third leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds.
PAHO and World Health Organisation (WHO) representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Dr Amalia Del Riego, praised the team for its unwavering commitment and collaborative effort with PAHO to re-evaluate approaches to suicide prevention, change the narrative of suicide and create access to life-saving care and support for the youth.
She shared some of the ways PAHO has partnered and supported other organisations in meeting the demands of mental health through initiatives like the “training of medical professionals so that mental health services can be provided at the polyclinic level, giving the public options as they seek mental health services and mental health reform for human rights-based and inclusive legislation, not only in Barbados, but in a number of Eastern Caribbean countries, to improve access to comprehensive mental health services for everyone in need”.
“PAHO continues to partner with member states to provide technical support for health, including mental health, for our populations. We also support Barbados, and it was a pleasure to witness the launch of Lifeline Barbados in 2024, following support from PAHO to train operators to manage the telephone hotline services, compassionate operators who are there to listen and to help,” she said.
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