Report On Teen Mental Health Released
The Bermuda Foundation published the “Bermuda Adolescent Mental Health and Wellness Report,” which found that “since the pandemic, rates of anxiety, depression, loneliness, stress and tension in young people has reached ‘alarming’ levels.”
A spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Foundation today announces publication of a report into the state of mental health among Bermuda’s teenagers. The purpose of the report is twofold: to gauge the existing state of mental health and wellbeing among Bermuda’s young people and to determine and evaluate opportunities to improve outcomes in this area.
“The Bermuda Adolescent Mental Health and Wellness report is published by the Fund for Adolescent Mental Health [AHM] under the leadership of Michelle Wolfe, Chair & Family Counsel at Meritus Trust company Limited, in partnership with the Hemera Foundation. This private foundation directs its grant-making towards “the healthy development of children and adolescents”. The report was researched and written by nonprofit sector consultant and researcher Dr. Edmina Bradshaw and edited by Dr. Myra Virgil, CEO and Managing Director of the Bermuda Foundation.”
Ms. Wolfe, Chair of the AMH Fund, says, “We hope the report represents an opportunity to foster professional competencies, and facilitates support for relevant programmes [existing and proposed], organizations and services. We also hope that its release will increase community awareness on service models, needs and gaps”.
The spokesperson said, “According to Dr. Bradshaw the report was designed to determine the extent to which positive adolescent mental health and wellbeing presents itself in Bermuda and whether there is an opportunity for improving existing systems and outcomes. Topics covered in the report include:
- The ‘science’ of adolescent mental health – a review of the literature
- Determinants of adolescent mental health and wellbeing in Bermuda.
- Key stakeholders, overall capacity & service gaps in Bermuda
- Community awareness
- Evidence-based practices and international approaches to sustaining positive mental health
- Barriers, risks, threats and protective opportunities for local developments in mental health.
“Mental health has come into sharper focus as an important community issue recently, notably post the Covid pandemic. In addition to the Bermuda Adolescent Mental Health and Wellness Report, two other studies have been conducted: the Government’s Ministry of Health assessed and mapped the existing acute adult mental health services in Bermuda; PhD candidate Daniel Cavanaugh and Psychologist, Dr. Shawnee Basden conducted an online, anonymous survey of 76% of local middle and high school students.
Bermuda Foundation has supported a number of reports on Bermuda’s social landscape, including Early Childhood Development, Bermuda Vital Signs® and Managing Philanthropy through Crisis.
Similar to these, notes Dr. Virgil, “The Bermuda Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing Report not only describes the current landscape, it also serves as guidance for increased philanthropic engagement and potentially as a support to public policy and new programme development”. She applauds the funders of this report for being champions for the adoption or adaptation of evidence-based practices, services and programmes.
Adolescent mental health is increasingly receiving much-needed attention, say representatives of the mental health provider community. Mental Health Awareness Week was commemorated by the Bermuda Hospital’s Board in early October 2023.
At this year’s conference hosted by the Bermuda Mental Health Foundation, the report was distributed to participants and Dr. Virgil thanked organisers for the opportunity to share the information. “The Bermuda Foundation hopes that this new report will help inform the bigger conversations on needs, services and programming,” she said.
The spokesperson said, “The Report found that
- Since the pandemic, rates of anxiety, depression, loneliness, stress and tension in young people has reached “alarming” levels.
- Services offered to young people – public, private and third sector – are limited by stretched services, dated infrastructures, inadequate resources, fragmented approaches, economic challenges and troubling social issues including drugs, gangs and the effects of adverse childhood experiences.
- There is a general lack of awareness about adolescent mental health, in a culture that generally stigmatises mental illness.
- The Report concludes that collaboration and coordination of services provided by government, the business community and third sector needs to be the way forward to improve conditions for adolescents. It notes that “to reverse the upward trajectory of mental illness in the community, attention to building and sustaining the mental wellbeing of 10- to 21-year olds in our community is of critical importance”.
“Key Report recommendations include the need to
- Build awareness about adolescent mental health amongst young people, parents and workplaces and publicise information on the availability of helping services and resources.
- Establish national standards for youth serving programmes
- Develop a structured and integrated adolescent mental wellness framework.
- Highlight the “bright spots” and share information on what’s working well.
“The Bermuda Adolescent Mental Health and Wellness Report can be read here.”
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Terrific news for all involved and the community at large as it still takes a village to raise our children. May new paths open for the many damaged by senseless violence the absence of a parent bullying and other stressors teens face.
In order to target and prevent anti social behaviours while offering therapeutic benefits. May these services become available and cost effective to all