Youth Mental Health Research Data Collected
The team behind the Adolescent Mental Health in Bermuda research announced they have “concluded their comprehensive data collection with great success.”
A spokesperson said, “This pioneering project, which aims to investigate the mental health of adolescents on the island, included the participation of 15 middle and high schools, both private and public, resulting in over 2,700 completed survey responses.
“To effectively use the collected data, the research team is now assembling a dedicated community action group. This group will be led by Dr Sandy De Silva, Executive Director at Family Centre, who will serve as the Chairperson. Representatives from Bermuda Hospitals Board and Solstice have already committed to participating in this working group. Additionally, invitations will be extended to representatives from various government departments and the wider community to join this collaborative effort.”
Daniel Cavanagh, Dr Shawnee Basden, and Azaria Smith
Research Supervisor Dr Shawnee Basden emphasised the significance of the data collected, stating, “with the data, we hope to demonstrate the pressing need to prioritise adolescent mental health in our community.” Further, “we actively encourage individuals and organisations working in this space to connect with us as we plan how to influence change effectively,” Dr Basden said.
The spokesperson said, “The research team intends to present preliminary findings at the upcoming Bermuda Mental Health Foundation Conference, scheduled to be held in October 2023. This conference will serve as an excellent platform to share key insights and foster meaningful discussions on adolescent mental health.
“The plan is then to return to schools to provide results to students and staff in the second half of the 2023-2024 academic year. By June 2024, the research team aims to deliver a comprehensive report to the government, which will include recommendations to prioritise and enhance the mental well-being of our adolescents.
“The Advisory Board for this research project concluded its final meeting on Tuesday, June 13. The board members, including Dr Sandy De Silva, Dr Peter Yates, Dr Eloise Pitts Crick and Dr Kyla Raynor, provided strategic advice during data collection to make sure the surveys were culturally adapted to Bermuda. With their support, and the overwhelming support and enthusiastic participation from the Bermuda community, the data collection phase was completed several months ahead of schedule. This has allowed the vital process of data analysis to begin promptly.
“The research team extends their deepest gratitude to the principals who agreed to host the research in their schools, the staff who organised the logistics and the parents and students for agreeing to participate. The research team would like to express their sincere appreciation to Mrs. Kalmar Richards, Commissioner of Education, for her support in facilitating collaboration with public schools. Similarly, thanks go to the Director of Health, Mr. David Kendell, for his guidance and support.”
Reflecting on the year of data collection, PhD student Daniel Cavanagh expressed his gratitude, stating, “I’d like to thank my colleagues at Warwick Academy who have been incredibly supportive, especially Principal Dave Horan, whose unwavering commitment made this research possible.”
Research Assistant Azaria Smith, who also works at Solstice, emphasised the positive impact of students completing the survey in terms of normalising conversations about mental health, remarking, “having visited all the middle and high schools, it is great to see how we are breaking down stigma by normalising talking about mental health.”
The spokesperson said, “This study has been supported by the Durhager Family Programme Fund and the Uplands Discretionary Trust.”
