Social workers, counsellors and psychologists have been urged to redouble their efforts to steer young people away from crime and antisocial behaviour, following new police data showing steep increases in serious offences involving youth.
As a two-week cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) training course, hosted by the Ministry of Educational Transformation and the MultiCare Youth Foundation, closed on Friday at Pelican House, the foundation’s Executive Director, Mitzian Turner, pointed to disturbing trends in the latest figures on reported crime.
Some of the 50 graduates from the two week programme taking part in the closing ceremony. (SB)
Some of the 50 graduates from the two week programme taking part in the closing ceremony. (SB)Some of the 50 graduates from the two week programme taking part in the closing ceremony. (SB)Wednesday’s report from The Barbados Police Service showed that while overall crime is down slightly by two per cent, serious crimes against the person have doubled, robberies have more than doubled, and major crimes are up 13 per cent.
What alarmed her most, however, was who is driving those trends.
Some 391 teenagers between 15 and 19 were charged, and 999 young people between 20 and 22 were also charged.
Turner said: “The acting commissioner expressed concern that the majority of those charged are young men, and that young women are becoming part and parcel of the underground economy… when they are not drinking, they are smoking.”
Policing alone cannot fix the problem, she stressed, suggesting that social workers and other community leaders have a part to play.
“I am sure the police are pursuing ways to curtail these criminal activities, but there are ways in which we social service providers, community groups, schools, churches, private and public sector, and everyday Barbadians can make a difference,” Turner said. “It is a national priority. We need to create an ecosystem that rejects criminal and violent behaviours and instead promotes supportive environments for our young people.”
She urged the graduating cohort to embrace the importance of their role: “You are the critical success factors for CBT here in Barbados. You must believe in the efficacy of this programme. Believe in your students and in their ability to change. If you can transform thoughts and perspective, you can transform behaviours.”
Some of the 50 graduates from the two week programme taking part in the closing ceremony. (SB)
CBT trainer Cyrilene Griffith-Willoughby said the sessions reinforced the need to look beyond behaviour to the story behind it.
“Through the sessions, discussions, and practical experiences, we were reminded that behind every challenge a student faces is a story… What stood out most was the engagement, the laughter, the thoughtful questions, and the moments of real connection.
“This initiative could not have come at a better time as our schools and communities face new social and emotional experiences,” she added. “What we have started here has the potential to influence not just how we counsel or teach, but how we build safer and more caring school environments across Barbados.”
The CBT course trained counsellors, social workers and psychologists to deliver CBT-based group therapy to students and to young people in wider community settings, particularly those at risk of aggression, impulsivity and disruptive conduct. Over the two-week programme, 50 participants were trained in CBT methodology.
(SB)
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