“We walk into classrooms and we see several empty seats. We go to our student division support department and we see students wearing long-sleeved clothing in the heat and you wondering what is that about, only to lift their shirt and to see them hiding all the cut marks on their hands.”

This startling statement was made yesterday by Dr Acolla Lewis-Cameron, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), while speaking about mental health challenges at The UWI.

According to Lewis-Cameron, mental health concerns among young people are on the rise in Trinidad and Tobago.

Against this backdrop, the Ministry of Health yesterday launched the U-Matter chatline—a free, confidential and anonymous text-based counselling and psychosocial support service. The initiative, unveiled at the ministry’s head office on Queen’s Park East, Port of Spain, is in collaboration with UNICEF and The UWI.

Lewis-Cameron disclosed mental health concerns among young adults have been increasing, particularly in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. “So, what we’ve seen is that anxiety, depression and related disorders have become increasingly prevalent, with clinical psychologists reporting significant impacts on teenagers and young adults,” she said, ­going on to add that the effects are evident at The UWI.

She revealed that information from The UWI’s main counsellor showed a month-long waiting list for students seeking help. “So much so that the university had to invest in a counsellor for each of the seven faculties on the campus; that is how bad it has been and so we are face-to-face in real time with the issues faced by our young people,” she said.

Citing statistics, she said “post-pandemic we have seen more and more young persons crying out for help and we have been encouraging them: do not suffer in silence”.

Some turn to binge drinking, inappropriate use of cannabis and other coping mechanisms. With this in mind, the university welcomed the opportunity to partner on the U-Matter initiative, reinforcing its commitment that “it cannot continue”, she said.

Vital lifeline

Speaking at the launch, Child Protection Officer at UNICEF Caribbean, Maryam Abdu, described the service as a vital lifeline for young people “who are crying for help with their mental health at a time when their lives are often too complicated…too confusing, just too stressful and I think we can all attest to that”.

Citing World Health Organisation data, she said 15% of mental illnesses begin at age 14. A 2024 U-Report survey found 75% of Caribbean respondents felt they needed mental health support but were uncertain where to find it.

Another UN survey revealed seven out of ten young people in Latin America and the Caribbean were experiencing mental health challenges in the aftermath of the pandemic, Abdu stated.

She stressed the message-based U-Matter text line will help youth take control of their mental health journey. She warned of frequent cases of young people “losing hope unable to see a way forward and dying by suicide”, noting research shows suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15-to-29-year-olds worldwide.

“Trinidad and Tobago is no exception. We cannot allow this to continue. We should ­never allow this to continue, and we will not allow this to continue—that’s why we are here today,” she said. Seeking help, she added, is “not a sign of weakness but one of courage saying you are not alone, your voice matters”.

A major milestone

Fifty-two volunteers have been trained to assist users of the service. Young adults aged 15 to 29 can access support by messaging 763-7336 via WhatsApp.

Calling the chatline a “major milestone”, Chief Medical Officer (Ag) Dr Priya Laloo, speaking on behalf of the Health Minister, said the platform provides a judgment-free space for individuals to seek help before ­issues escalate into crisis.

“We are strengthening governance (strategy) by establishing the national mental health committee and ensuring that all regional mental health committees are fully functional. Legislative reform will also be a priority, including aligning our Mental Health Act with the convention with the rights of persons with disabilities and working towards the decriminalisation of attempted suicide,” Laloo said.

On service delivery, she said “we are advancing the implementation of psychiatric wards, the Arima Hospital, Point Fortin Hospital and Central Block of Port of Spain General Hospital, with similar facilities to follow at Sangre Grande.”