The Cayman Islands Government has adopted a multi-faceted approach to safeguarding and promoting good mental health among young people.
It has gathered key stakeholders in order to coordinate a national response for its multi-agency child and youth mental health project.
Every year on 10 September, countries around the globe help to mark World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) as a way to raise awareness, reduce stigma and educate the community on suicide and its prevention.
Created in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention, in conjunction with the World Health Organisation, it helps to focus advocacy efforts locally and nationally via the promotion of singular messaging that suicide is often preventable.
“It’s never easy to talk about difficult topics like suicide,” chief nursing officer Felicia McLean said in a press release on 10 September. “Yet, this is one of those topics where silence inflicts significant harm.
“That’s why it’s so important for us to learn how to be a source of support and a safe space for those facing emotional challenges, such as suicidal thoughts and feelings.”
The Cayman Islands National Child Safeguarding Board tasked the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability to lead a multi-agency child and youth mental health project to bring together key stakeholders in an effort to coordinate a national response.
The stakeholders include multiple ministries, departments and SAGCs, the Alex Panton Foundation, the Mental Health Commission, and the UK Health Security Agency.
“Child and youth mental health is a complex topic,” McLean stated.
“As such, we have adopted a multi-faceted approach to the work, focusing on short-, medium- and long-term goals that range from education and training, to expansion of services, youth engagement, awareness and destigmatisation, policy development, and overall system coordination, among many other things.
“By having the right people at the table, and ensuring that we have the data that we need to inform our decisions, our hope is that we will be able to ensure buy-in, cohesion and consistency in the way that we work to safeguard and promote good mental health among our children and youth.”
Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainability, said the health and safety of Cayman’s children and youth is very close to her heart.
“As a founding director of United Against Bullying, youth mental health has been a particular concern and passion for many years, so I am proud of the work which my ministry has been doing, and the leadership role that we are taking in this matter.
“Suicide is a significant public health problem, with social, emotional and economic impact.
“Mental health is health, and we must continue to push that message to help end the stigma and make it easier for people to get help when they need it.”
Wayne Panton, parliamentary secretary for the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability, said the responsibillity for the wellbeing of young people cannot be overstated.
“The theme of World Suicide Prevention Day this year is ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide’,” he said.
“This is a push for us to shift away from a culture of silence and stigma, to one of openness, empathy and support.
“I am encouraged by the work of our ministry in contributing to this change, and helping our nation to develop a culture of understanding, kindness and support to all who may experience mental ill health and suicidal thoughts and feelings.”
Along with efforts to identify accessible training options for educators and youth workers on signs of suicide risk, the multi-agency group is also currently preparing to present the findings of the Inspire Youth Meet-Up event at the upcoming Health Care Conference, which will take place in late October 2025.
“Mental health is a state of wellness, and we must all do our part to learn more on what we can do to promote and protect good mental health,” stated acting chief officer Neyka Webster.
Within the Cayman Islands community, the topic of youth mental health broadly, and suicide prevention in particular, has been a focal point of discussion for several years.
The National Drug Council’s Cayman Islands Student Drug Use Survey was analysed with support from the Alex Panton Foundation.
It provided concerning information about Cayman’s youth who are considering or engaging in self-harm, have thoughts of suicide or have tried to end their lives.
At the Inspire Youth Meet-Up Event in October 2024, more than 200 students from Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac’s public, private and home school settings came together to discuss their experiences with mental health, self-care and community wellbeing.
Challenges in relationships, hostile school environments, lack of face-to-face interactions, cultural issues, the negative impact of social media, drug use and loss of hope were all identified as major themes following a thematic analysis of the event’s data.
