Health Minister Michael Joseph on Monday received the findings of a national consultation on mental health care involving children and adolescents in Antigua and Barbuda, marking a significant step toward modern mental health legislation.
The findings are documented in two companion reports — the National Youth Consultation on the Mental Health Care Bill 2026: Findings and Recommendations Report, and Youth Voices: A Mental Health Care Bill Survey Report. Mr. Jameel Lee of the Zenith Centre formally handed over the documents to the Minister on June 15, 2026.
The reports are the product of a collaborative initiative involving the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the Zenith Centre, UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
The consultation engaged approximately 1,000 young people through surveys and a further 300 participants across ten focus groups. Participants came from a broad cross-section of primary and secondary schools as well as the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS). Using age-appropriate and supportive approaches, children and adolescents were given the opportunity to share their experiences, concerns, expectations and recommendations regarding mental health and mental health services.
The initiative forms part of the Government's broader effort to develop rights-based mental health legislation, with a stated commitment to ensuring that young voices are meaningfully incorporated into the reform process. The findings and recommendations are intended to strengthen mental health awareness, improve access to services, reduce stigma and ensure the legislative framework adequately reflects the priorities of children and adolescents.
Accepting the reports, Minister Joseph welcomed the contribution of the nation's youth to the development of the Mental Health Care Bill and emphasised the importance of inclusive, evidence-informed policymaking.
"The perspectives of our children and young people matter. Meaningful reform requires that those who will live with the outcomes of our decisions have an opportunity to contribute to them," he said. "The findings contained in these documents will help ensure that the Mental Health Care Bill and the broader mental health system are responsive to the needs and realities of young people in Antigua and Barbuda."
Minister Joseph also commended the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the Zenith Centre, UNICEF, PAHO and all those involved in facilitating the initiative, noting that genuine mental health reform demands cross-sector collaboration and sustained community engagement.
The Government stated its continued commitment to strengthening mental health services and advancing legislation that promotes dignity, protects human rights and reflects the needs of the people it is designed to serve.
