Saint Lucia Takes Suicide Prevention Message Directly to Teenagers

Saint Lucia’s mental health officials are taking the suicide prevention conversation directly to teenagers, teaching secondary school students how to recognise warning signs in themselves and their peers and when to seek help.

The National Mental Wellness Centre’s Engagement Committee hosted a suicide awareness symposium for secondary school students on Friday, placing early intervention, stigma reduction and access to support at the centre of the discussion.

Opening the symposium at the Wellness Centre’s auditorium, committee member Sharon Stephen told students that while suicide is a serious subject, the conversation must also be rooted in hope and human connection, reminding them: “You do not have to face it alone.”

Stephen also highlighted the scale of the issue among young people, citing World Health Organization estimates which placed Saint Lucia’s suicide mortality rate among people aged 15 to 29 at 5.4 per 100,000 in 2019.

The discussion comes amid continued concern over suicide nationally. World Bank data placed Saint Lucia’s overall suicide mortality rate at 5.27 per 100,000 population in 2021.

Bernessa Joseph-Etienne, Departmental Manager at the National Wellness Centre, said secondary school students were deliberately targeted because young people struggling with their mental health may not always feel comfortable approaching adults for help.

She urged students to pay attention to changes in the behaviour of friends and loved ones, identifying depression, withdrawal from family and friends, and suddenly neglecting eating or bathing among possible warning signs.

Rather than ignoring those changes, Joseph-Etienne encouraged young people to start a conversation and help connect the person with someone equipped to provide support, including a family member, faith leader, school counsellor or mental health professional.

But recognising warning signs is only part of the challenge.

Joseph-Etienne said stigma surrounding mental health and suicide continues to prevent some people from speaking openly about what they are experiencing or seeking assistance. Initiatives such as the symposium, she explained, are intended to create safer spaces where people can discuss their struggles without fear of judgement.

She stressed that continued education and open conversations can help communities better understand mental health challenges and respond with greater compassion.

Joseph-Etienne also acknowledged that trying to support someone experiencing suicidal thoughts can itself be emotionally difficult for relatives and friends.

Anyone who feels overwhelmed or needs guidance while supporting someone at risk can contact Saint Lucia’s national suicide hotline by dialling 203, where free counselling services are available.

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