Interested In Serving On Youth Advisory Board?

Applications are open for Bermudian students aged 14-18 to serve on the Youth Advisory Board to help shape mental health reform in Bermuda.

A spokesperson said, “The Youth Mental Health Plan Team 2027 is inviting you to apply to join the Youth Advisory Board [YAB] to shape youth mental health in Bermuda. The YAB will play a central role in enhancing our mental health system for young people through advocacy, education, and community engagement. Their work will focus on three major goals:

1. Policy Advocacy – The YAB will lead advocacy efforts to amend mental health related legislation that affects young people, including the Children’s Act and the Mental Health Act to lower the age of consent for mental health services from 18 to 16, to facilitate early intervention.
2. Mental Health Literacy – The Board will co-design a national youth mental health literacy program, supporting the Youth Mental Health Plan’s goal to ensure all young Bermudians understand mental health and know how to access help.
3. Anti-Stigma Campaigning – YAB members will organize and lead a slate of impactful public events, in line with the Ministry of Health’s campaign efforts to fight stigma in our community.

“Being part of the Youth Advisory Board is about more than just having a seat at the table, it’s about using young voices to create real change.” Stated Chris Jackson, Youth Advisory Board Chair. “Young people understand the mental health challenges we face better than anyone, and this is your chance to be heard, to advocate, and to help shape a system that truly supports us. If you care about mental health and want to make a difference in your community, I encourage you to apply. Your perspective matters, and we need it.”

A spokesperson added, “Applications are open for 20 Bermudian students aged 14-18 who reside in Bermuda. Those interested in applying for the YAB can fill out the application form, which includes submitting a two-minute video answering a question about your relation to mental health, using the link https://forms.gle/ZkcoKbXLAzhVGXyt5. For more details on how to apply please reach out to ymhbermuda@gmail.com.

“The YAB will officially begin its 2025-2026 term under the Bermuda Youth Mental Health Plan in September of 2025. Board members will be expected to:

• Have monthly, 3 hour in-person board meetings from September 2025 – June 2026
• Lead and execute initiatives through 3 sub-committees: Policy & Advocacy, Mental Health Literacy and Anti-Stigma Campaigning.
• Participate in regular podcasts
• Collaboration and meaningful dialogue with key stakeholders

“In September, the YAB will complete orientation and advocacy training. October will consist of mental health training from international experts, kicking off the mental health literacy co-design process. The anti-stigma campaign will include a series of youth-led events starting from the Youth Mental Health Summit in October 2025 until the Mental Health Anti-Stigma month in May 2026.

“The YAB is being formed to ensure that the Youth Mental Health Plan, developed in response to the results of the 2022-2023 National Adolescent Mental Health Survey here, includes young Bermudian insights. International best-practice also calls for youth-related reform to remain grounded in the realities of young people’s lives. Through leadership development, collaboration with clinicians and researchers, and meaningful advocacy, YAB members are becoming ambassadors for much needed Mental Health reform.

“For more information visit us on,

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19oVt8LGfv/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Instagram: @youthmentalhealthplanbermuda
• Tiktok: @youthmentalhealthplan

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