Youth crisis now a national emergency, warns counsellor

Barbados is facing a deepening youth crisis, with rising behavioural issues, mental health struggles, and family dysfunction affecting communities all across the island.

According to Shawn Clarke, CEO of Supreme Counselling for Personal Development (SCPD), the problem is no longer confined to traditionally stigmatised neighbourhoods but has become a nationwide concern requiring urgent intervention.

“This crisis that we speak of is all over Barbados. It’s in our communities, it’s in our schools,” he said during a press conference at SkyMall conference room on Monday. “We cannot ignore it, nor can we say it is happening only in so-called ‘bad areas’. Often, when incidents occur, the perpetrators are not even from the communities where the crimes take place.”

Supreme Counselling has witnessed a significant surge in requests for help, Clarke added, underscoring the need for heightened action.

“From last year, we really started seeing a massive increase in calls. Schools began reaching out to us in late 2022 for bullying prevention programmes and intervention services. Since then, calls from individual parents seeking assistance have also increased sharply,” he disclosed.

The SCPD CEO estimated that calls had risen by approximately 57 per cent, a statistic that he described as deeply concerning.

“What makes it worse is the age of the children we’re seeing. Parents are seeking urgent help for six- and seven-year-olds,” he noted.

Most cases involve behavioural challenges, and psychological assessments indicate a high prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

“Without proper assessment and structured counselling, these problems will persist and worsen,” Clarke cautioned.

He stressed that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) like Supreme Counselling cannot shoulder the burden alone, as their capacity is stretched and funding is running low.

Clarke explained that while some professionals work pro bono, Supreme Counselling still has to cover costs.

“Barbados needs to step up to the plate. This is not just our problem—it’s a national problem . . . . Even when we take a child free of charge, it’s not pro bono for us. We still have to pay the psychologists and professionals,” he said.

To address this, Supreme Counselling has launched a two-month fundraising campaign, aiming to raise $250 000 through its Reach One Save One programme to support 250 children.

“$100 provides a child’s first step towards healing, $500 lays the foundation for change and $1 000 funds a full intervention, altering a life forever,” Clarke said.

He appealed to the public to continue giving even after the campaign ends, “because the problem will not disappear”.

Clarke expressed a strong desire to introduce intervention programmes at the primary school level: “We need to get into primary schools, particularly those that feed into the secondary schools we already work with. That way, instead of five years of intervention at the secondary level, we could have nine or ten years of engagement. But again, funding is the issue.”

He appealed to businesses, individuals, and even the hospitality sector to contribute to the cause.

“Just as tourism was once ‘everyone’s business’, saving our young people must now be everyone’s business,” Clarke contended.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb