National Youth Survey gets underway

The Ministry of People Empowerment & Elder Affairs, in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth, started a National Youth Survey on Monday, targeting 2 000 young people in various districts across the island. This exercise is expected to be completed by Friday, October 24, 2025.

The survey, which will target young people, ages 14 to 44, seeks to identify the root causes of anxiety, depression, apathy, and violence among the youth, with a focus on their values, attitudes, sense of purpose, and coping strategies employed when faced with challenges.

Field officers, who are professionally trained life coaches, will visit random households. They will be wearing polo shirts with the Ministry’s logo prominently displayed and carrying an ID badge with the logo and an authorised signature.

Young Barbadians are urged to actively participate in this exercise. Data will be collected on:

• how COVID-19 affected various households;
• how different generations would have reacted;
• what were their mental health coping mechanisms; and
• whether COVID-19 contributed to violence or aggression.

The interview is expected to last no more than half an hour. The information collected will be kept in the strictest confidence.

(Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs)