Adolescent Mental Health Project,
Trinidad and Tobago
- Who is spearheading this project?
The Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), in partnership with the UNDP, UNICEF, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth Development and National Service and civil society stakeholders, has embarked on a national project focused on supporting young people in the area of Mental Health—focusing on creative solutions to mental health, for young people, by young people.
- What is the objective of the project?
The project seeks to:
- Reduce stigma around mental health, and encourage healthy conversations among youth, educators and parental figures.
- Encourage young persons to harness their creative passions as a means of managing mental health, provide an outlet for expressing their emotions, and other positive outcomes.
- Create artistic pieces to be displayed in a final exhibition to be held across Trinidad and Tobago
- Who are the young people involved in this project?
A committee of young persons from across Trinidad and Tobago, aged 10-19 years developed creative pieces such as poetry, spoken word, dance and visual arts to highlight or address mental health issues affecting youth that they would like to draw greater attention to.
- What is the significance of this project and its relevance today?
The COVID-19 pandemic and enforced lockdowns exacerbated an already challenging reality for young people in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as youth and families around the world. This Mental Health project is designed to provide much-needed relief to young people, support parents and educators, and empower stakeholders to better understand and serve the mental health needs of the nation’s youth.
- Why Art as a solution to managing Mental Health?
The use of creative, performance and carnival arts is a holistic way of treating mental health in general.
We need to take a holistic approach to manage mental health, and health in general. When dealing with young people it is important to incorporate strategies that provide an outlet for them to express themselves, and utilizing their gifts and talents is one way to achieve this.
This strengthens the capacity of young people to regulate their emotions, explore alternatives to risk-taking behaviors, and build resilience for managing difficult situations and adversity.
- When and where is the Art Exhibition taking place?
This multi-media art exhibition was launched on World Mental Health Day (October 10th, 2022) and highlights the creative pieces by the Youth Committee members which focus on the topic of mental health in adolescents. Committee Members were encouraged to create in a medium of their choosing a piece that highlights or addresses a mental health issue affecting youth that they would like to draw more attention to.
The young people were also supported by artists Marge Blackman and Neval Chatelal with the creation of a theme song and music video for the project, ‘We Have Love’, written by Ms. Blackman.
Click here to view the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qufUxt9rE3c
The exhibition is open to the public at the following venues and dates:
- Oct 11th – 22nd; Art Society of Trinidad and Tobago, POS
- Oct 29th - Nov 5th; Auditorium, City Hall, San Fernando
- Nov 19th - Nov 26th; Scarborough Library Services, Tobago
Special thanks to our partners from the
United Nations, government and civil society
- Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO)
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
- Office of the Prime Minister
- Tobago House of Assembly
- Ministry of Health
- Ministry of Education
- Ministry of Youth Development and National Service
- The Art Society of Trinidad and Tobago
- We Care Deaf Support Network
- His Worship, Alderman Junia Regrello, Mayor of the City of San Fernando; San Fernando City Corporation
- National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS); Tobago Library Services, Scarborough
- Horizons Art Gallery, Framing & Decor
