Psychologists want urgent action on crime and violence

The time for talk on crime and violence crippling the island is over, the spokeswoman for the nation’s psychologists said on Thursday, calling for urgent and targeted interventions in various communities around the island.

The newly appointed head of the Barbados Society of Psychology (BSP), Dr Mia Jules, made the comments to Barbados TODAY in the wake of the shocking death of Shawnaton Chase, 13, a bystander who was shot in a gun attack while watching a netball match at his home in Silver Hill, Christ Church on Tuesday night.

“The violence we are witnessing today is extremely disturbing, but we must remember – people are not born criminals.

Their behaviours are often shaped by life experiences such as trauma, neglect, and exposure to violence, whether at home or online,” Dr Jules explained. “Left unaddressed, the inner scarring from these experiences then play out externally as indiscipline and other problematic behaviours. The longer underlying psychological and emotional issuesare left unattended, the harder they become to address.”

She stressed that there is a clear and pressing need for more psychologists and guidance counsellors in schools, emphasising that childhood and adolescence are important years where young people are most susceptible to external influences – both positive and negative. While much focus is placed on academic screening tests, Dr Jules questioned whether enough attention is given to identifying emotional challenges such as anxiety, depression, frustration, and anger, which have all fuelled a number of violent incidents seen in the public sphere over the last several months.

“How much of the curriculum focuses on social and emotional learning and helping young people to become more empathetic to the needs of others, thereby nurturing the development of their emotional intelligence?” she asked. “We also must consider this question: after the screening is done, what psychological support and follow-up is then given?”

Dr Jules also pointed to a troubling trend – the disproportionate number of men charged with serious crimes – and underscored the importance of sustained mentorship interventions, particularly for young males.

“Men need more positive role models. I want us to ask ourselves, what is the ratio of male to female guidance counsellors at each school? Representation matters, and having role models of different genders is crucial for young people.”

She cautioned against viewing crime and violence as issues that exist outside of the collective responsibility of society. Instead, she urged citizens to take a stand by speaking up when they witness wrongdoing and advocating for meaningful change – stressing that the wider society alone will be responsible for reining in the wave of delinquency.

“Are we just going to continue punishing and locking up perpetrators? Or are we going to invest in culturally relevant, evidence-based psycho-social programmes to curb this crisis in the years to come? The choices we make today will ultimately shape the society we live in tomorrow,” she said. shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb