Educators get behavioural therapy training to tackle youth violence

More than 40 schools across Barbados have begun intensive training in cognitive behavourial therapy (CBT) that organisers say has helped educators in Jamaica address rising youth violence, serious crime among students, and the emotional fallout that victims face.

The week-long training programme, aims to equip educators with practical tools to manage behavioural challenges, reduce aggression, and promote emotional regulation among young people.

The training, being conducted at Pelican House, Bridgetown, is a collaboration between the Ministry of Educational Transformation and Jamaica’s Multicare Youth Foundation (MYF).

Course facilitator Mitzian Turner, MYF’s executive director, described the initiative as a “groundbreaking, monumental milestone” for the foundation and an important step towards building resilience among vulnerable Caribbean youth.

“Similar to Jamaica, youth in Barbados are experiencing a high level of exposure to violence,” Turner said in her opening remarks. “There has been a rise in serious crimes committed by school-aged children, and youth are overrepresented as both victims and perpetrators of violence. These factors affect their mental health and increase risks of drug abuse, early pregnancy, and crime.”

Turner explained that the MYF has more than 30 years’ experience working with donor agencies and partners to deliver critical social intervention programmes, reaching over
200 000 vulnerable youth in Jamaica.

She highlighted features of the Transforming Our Perspective Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TOP-CBT) model, developed by Jamaican Clinical Psychologist Dr Kai Morgan and her team, which has proven highly effective in reducing negative behaviours among young people.

“The MYF recognises that no one size fits all in this fight against youth crime and violence,” Turner noted. “CBT gives at-risk youth the tools to manage their emotions, control their impulses, and make positive life choices. It’s about changing how they see themselves and how they respond to challenges.”

Turner said the results have been striking, with the programme achieving measurable reductions of 63.85 per cent in youth aggression, 60.51 per cent in impulsivity, and a 71.54 per cent increase in pro-social behaviour among participants — including those in schools, communities, and juvenile correctional centres.

The Barbados workshop, she added, seeks to give local educators similar tools and strategies to reach at-risk youth and break cycles of violence and trauma.

Over the next five days, participants — school administrators, counsellors, and teachers — will be trained in the principles of CBT by Dr Morgan and co-facilitator Kyle Schloss. They will learn how to identify behavioural risk factors, apply trauma-informed approaches, and integrate CBT techniques into classrooms and counselling settings.

“We’re equipping educators with another tool in their toolbox,” Turner explained. “Something they can use to help students manage aggression, build resilience, and develop healthier social skills.”

“As Caribbean people, we share deeply rooted connections and face similar social challenges,” she said. “By working together, we can create sustainable, culturally relevant solutions that help our youth thrive despite the difficulties they face. This is about transforming lives and creating positive, lasting change.”

Post-training coaching will also be provided to assist schools in implementing the techniques and evaluating their impact. (LG)