CARIBBEAN-New study points to worrying signs of high levels of depression and anxiety GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – A new study has found that a significant number of children and adolescents across the Caribbean are experiencing high levels of symptoms of depression and anxiety.
The study titled “The 2025 Caribbean Child and Youth Mental Health Research Study “ was conducted by the Guyana-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
In 2024, the survey was distributed to children and young people across the Caribbean to explore issues related to their mental health and well-being, and to find solutions. Over 1,500 children and youth from 17 countries and territories responded.
The survey revealed concerning trends in youth mental health across the region, with 58 per cent of respondents expressing a lack of optimism about the future; 56 per cent reported experiencing persistent worry; and 54 per cent indicated feelings of sadness, depression, and hopelessness.
Guyana’s Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, speaking at a virtual event to present the study’s findings, said, “These findings are significant because they would help us to address some of the issues that we face across the Caribbean”.
He commended CARICOM and UNICEF for their critical efforts to understand anxiety and depression among Caribbean youth better, noting, “Here in Guyana, we have already been examining issues related to mental health, particularly mental health among young people.
“I hope these findings will lead to meaningful interventions that truly support our young people. This must not be the final study. We need to close the data gaps that persist across the region.”
Guyana’s Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steven Jacobs, underscored the pressing challenges confronting young people that may contribute to increased levels of anxiety and depression and advocated for collaboration to tackle the issue.
“Across our region, young people are facing increasing pressures from academic stress and unemployment, the lingering effects of the pandemic, and social media challenges.
“Many are silently struggling, unsure where to turn. This is why prevention and early response are so critical. No single ministry can do it alone,” Jacobs said.
The Program Manager for Youth Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, Michele Small-Bartley, in presenting some of the key recommendations of the study, emphasized the need to enhance access to support services for young people, strengthen referral pathways, raise awareness to reduce mental health stigma, and equip parents and teachers with the skills to identify signs of poor mental health in youth.
“Many children, whether at home, in school, or within their communities, need our support. This document not only presents valuable data, but it also offers practical resources and evidence to guide the development of more tailored and impactful programs for our Caribbean people,” she added.
The Child Protection Officer at UNICEF Office for the Eastern Caribbean Area, Bertrand Moses, said, “We are seeing clear evidence that more and more young people are feeling isolated and alone.
“Moses said that to help address this, a directory of Government Mental Health Services has been created, offering country-specific links to text lines, hotlines, and other support resources at youngcaribbeanminds.com.
“The directory was shaped by insights from thousands of young people across the region who shared what they wanted to see in a mental health resource,” Moses added.
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