BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The 69th annual health research conference of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Pubic Health Agency (CARPHA) began here on Thursday, with delegates being told that the region has made some advances in improving mental health care, particularly in mental health legislation.
CARPHA Executive Director; Dr Jerome Walcott – Minister of Health and Wellness Barbados; Dr Rhonda Sealey-Thomas – Assistant Director PAHO; Dr Kenneth George – Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health and Wellness BarbadosCARPHA executive director, Dr. Lisa Indar told the conference that mental health receives just over four per cent of healthcare budgets across much of the region.
“Depression and anxiety disorders account for nearly 50 per cent of the disability-adjusted life years in our region, with approximately one in four adults experiencing a diagnosable mental health condition in their lifetime,” she said.
The three-day event which is being held under the theme “Mental Health: The Hidden Pandemic” will present focused sessions on mental health, non-communicable diseases, family health, as well as infectious diseases, and nutrition.
It is being held against the backdrop of mental health being described as “an urgent but often overlooked challenge of our time” with Indar noting that mental health is a key aspect of our health and well-being and studies have shown that mental disorders can reduce life expectancy by 10 to 20 years.
Barbados Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. Jerome Walcott, said that “around 15 per cent of disabilities in Barbados are linked to mental health conditions,” while Dr. Rhonda Sealey-Thomas, Assistant Director, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) pointed out that “the COVID-19 pandemic amplified mental health challenges, even in previously unaffected populations, resulting in a 35 per cent increase in major depressive disorders and a 32 per cent increase in anxiety disorders in 2020”.
Indar said young people are also severely affected by this growing issue, adding “mental health is not a side issue. It is not an afterthought. It is central to the health of our societies.
“Most troubling is emerging data reporting that Caribbean adolescents experience rates of depression approximately 15% higher than the global average, with contributing factors including academic pressure, exposure to violence, and limited youth-focused mental health resources”.
The PAHO official said that the Caribbean ranks among those with the highest suicide rates worldwide, claiming the lives of more than 100,000 people annually.
But despite this statistic, it is reported that over 70 per cent of people who need mental health care in our region, do not receive it.
“The greatest obstacle we face is stigma; it keeps too many of us silent. It delays treatment, deepens suffering, and, in its most devastating form, leads to preventable loss of life,” Walcott said.
“The government of Barbados is taking decisive action to strengthen mental health support with the establishment of Lifeline Barbados, a 24-hour national mental health hotline, providing confidential emotional support and crisis intervention for individuals in distress. ”
He said that since its establishment in 2024, calls to the hotline addressed issues ranging from anxiety, depression, suicidal and homicidal ideation, substance abuse and social challenges.
“The Ministry of Health and Wellness is also working closely with PAHO/WHO to review and modernise the Mental Health Legislation, to ensure that individuals with mental disorders have access to more responsive and high-quality mental health care”.
CARPHA said it promotes mental health as a fundamental aspect of human development and Indar encouraged the region to continue to make strides by transforming our approach from crisis response to proactive promotion of well-being.
She stated that success requires a whole-of-society approach, forging new partnerships such as technical cooperation, knowledge exchange, and resource mobilisation efforts.
Indar also urged the Region to commit to building mental health systems that emphasise prevention, honour cultural context, and ensure that no one suffers in silence.
The conference, which is being hosted in collaboration with the Barbados Ministry of Health and Wellness, will also feature a panel discussion titled Breaking the Stigma: Advancing Mental Health Care for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults in the Caribbean.
It will explore urgent strategies for improving the detection and treatment of mental health issues among children, adolescents, and young adults in the Caribbean. Panellists will examine the cultural stigmas, systemic gaps, and resource limitations that hinder early diagnosis and access to care.
In addition to a special session on Pandemic Fund and Infectious Diseases, the conference will present focused sessions on non-communicable diseases, family health, mental health, vector-borne diseases, and nutrition.
Local, regional and international companies and organisations will display their products and services, innovations and programmes.
A total of 87 oral papers and 86 poster presentations will highlight research findings from students, academics and health professionals from the region.
