The Government of Antigua and Barbuda, through the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs, in collaboration with UNICEF, the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission and Zenith Centre, has officially launched the Young Caribbean Minds (YCM) Chatline, the OECS’ first free, anonymous, text-based mental health and child protection support service for children and young people.

 

The launch also marked the release of the Youth Voices: Mental Health Care Bill Survey Report, which captures the perspectives of more than 1,000 children and young people and will help inform Antigua and Barbuda’s proposed Mental Health Care Bill 2026. The report represents the largest youth consultation on mental health legislation ever conducted in the Eastern Caribbean and highlights the importance of ensuring young people’s voices shape national policies.

 

The findings revealed that stigma remains one of the greatest barriers preventing young people from seeking mental health support, with many expressing concerns about being judged. The report also found strong support for rights-based mental health legislation and underscored the importance of privacy and confidential services—findings that directly informed the development of the Young Caribbean Minds Chatline.

 

Prime Minister Gaston Browne reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to improving mental health services, describing mental health as a fundamental right. He also spoke candidly about his personal experiences, emphasizing the need to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness and ensure greater access to care.

 

Minister of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs, Michael Joseph welcomed the initiative, noting that it represents another significant step in strengthening mental health services and expanding access to timely, confidential support for children and young people across Antigua and Barbuda.

 

The Young Caribbean Minds Chatline provides free, real-time psychosocial support through trained volunteers supervised by qualified psychologists. Young people can access the service anonymously without providing personal information, while an integrated child protection referral system ensures that those at risk can be connected with appropriate safeguarding services when necessary.

 

The initiative builds on a successful five-month pilot, during which more than 1,000 support sessions were provided and 88 per cent of users indicated they would use the service again. The programme has also received international recognition, including being named among the top three finalists in the UNICEF Global INSPIRE Awards.

 

The launch brought together government officials, development partners, civil society organisations and youth representatives, reflecting a shared commitment to promoting mental wellness and ensuring that every child and young person has access to safe, confidential and youth-friendly mental health support.

 

The Young Caribbean Minds Chatline is expected to expand across all nine OECS Member States as part of a phased regional rollout, further strengthening access to mental health services throughout the Eastern Caribbean.