
08/08/2025
: Over the past month, we’ve been proud to support the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Pan American Health Organization on the Mind Yuh Mind Community Conversations — a bold step toward transforming Barbados’ mental health landscape and updating our 40-year-old Mental Health Act. 🧠⚖️
These conversations allowed the public to meet the National Mental Health Commission (), dive deep into the proposed Draft Mental Health Legislative Notes, and most importantly, share their vision for mental health policy that is people-centered, rights-based, and community-driven.
Let’s Unpack It, alongside our peers at Healthy Caribbean Youth (), stepped up to engage youth meaningfully in this national conversation. We hosted an Instagram Live to amplify youth voices, and our incredible team of volunteers supported the smooth flow of the sessions by welcoming guests, facilitating online engagement, and assisting with audience participation.
💛 One of the most powerful moments came during Community Conversation #2 when our very own Kehly Olton (), LUI’s Volunteer Coordinator, courageously shared her lived experience with mental illness for the first time publicly.
🫂 Her testimony moved the room, reminding us all that behind the policies are real people, and that hope, help-seeking, and human rights must guide our path forward.
‼️ If you care about mental health in Barbados, especially child and youth mental health, we urge you to watch “Pathways to Wellness: The Mental Health Transformation in Barbados” on YouTube. LUI supported the development of this powerful video in partnership with PAHO and the Ministry, and it captures the heart of this transformation and the road ahead.
🎥 Tap the link in our bio to watch now.
We remain committed to working at both the policy level and community level, so that every young person in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean can enjoy their fundamental right to the highest attainable standard of mental health and wellbeing.
🎯 Together, let’s continue to “Listen. Unite. Inspire.”