Speakers are needed for the 2026 Youth Mental Health Symposium, with a focus on what adults can do to support young people.
The symposium, led by the Alex Panton Foundation and now in its ninth year, will be held on 21 February 2026 at Hotel Indigo, Grand Cayman from 10am to 4pm.
This year’s theme, ‘Lighting the way: Turning hope into action’, aims to empower adults – from parents and teachers to coaches and caregivers – to listen, learn and lead with understanding.
It’s hoped the event will offer practical tools and insights to help them “become stronger allies, advocates, and agents of change”, the foundation explained in a newsletter.
It said that many adults express uncertainty about how to recognise warning signs, respond effectively and create spaces where young people feel safe, heard and supported.
Anyone with a presentation idea that aligns with this year’s theme is encouraged to apply. Proposals should be submitted by 23 November for consideration.
All applications will be reviewed by the Symposium Committee, and applicants will be notified of the outcome in the weeks following the deadline.
The Alex Panton Foundation is a non-profit organisation set up in the memory of Alex Panton, who struggled with severe depression and took his own life at the age of 16.
The charity aims to raise awareness about mental illnesses affecting children and young adults in the Cayman Islands, with a particular focus on anxiety and depression.
Presentation ideas can be submitted here. More information on the Alex Panton Foundation can be found here.
