The new president of the Young Democrats has called for a rebranding of the Psychiatric Hospital to combat stigma and improve access to mental health services for young people.
Shaquani Hunte, who also serves as youth representative on the Democratic Labour Party’s Crime Commission, made the proposal during a special youth edition meeting of the commission on Tuesday evening.
She highlighted the urgent need to address the mental health crisis among the island’s youth, noting that cultural stigma often prevents young people from seeking help despite their ability to articulate the pressures they face.
“Most young people can articulate what is wrong with them. The issue comes when they tell an adult, and then you are told ‘nothing is wrong with you. You are fine. Black people don’t do counselling’,” Hunte said, emphasising the cultural barriers to accessing mental health care.
One of Hunte’s key proposals is a rebranding of the Psychiatric Hospital, which dates back to 1893 when a mental asylum was opened on the site of the Jenkinsville plantation in Black Rock.
Hunte believes the hospital is often unfairly associated with “madness” or extreme mental health breakdowns.
“The stigma attached to it is very, very negative. When you hear of people getting treatment at the Psychiatric Hospital, they are referred to as mentally ill, so you automatically think that only mad people get treatment there,” she said.
Hunte suggested that the facility should hold open days to educate the public about available services, making mental healthcare more approachable.
She said her recommendations follow research and interviews conducted with young people as part of her role as a DLP crime commissioner.
The youth advocate also highlighted the socioeconomic struggles that drive young people towards crime. She noted that difficult home environments, overcrowding, and a lack of basic utilities like water and electricity are harsh realities for many young Barbadians.
“The family itself is struggling,” she said.
Hunte argued that these poor living conditions force young people to seek space and privacy outside their homes, potentially leading to negative influences and deviant behaviour.
“Most households in Barbados are extended households, and sometimes you’ll be sharing a bedroom with four to five people, so there’s no privacy. How do you have your own peaceful environment to do homework or even reflect on your day?” she questioned.
Hunte suggested that addressing both socioeconomic challenges and mental health needs is crucial to reducing crime in Barbados.
“Even though you’re young, you’re still worried about things. Being young does not make you forget about the struggles in life or the struggles in home life,” she said.
Hunte further advocated for a more comprehensive approach to youth crime prevention.
“There are solutions and programmes that can assist the public, but first we need to strip away the stigma,” she noted, calling for a cultural shift in how the country handles both crime and mental health among its young people. (SM)
