Minister of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs, Hon. Michael Joseph, has received the findings of a national consultation on mental health care and proposed mental health legislation involving children and adolescents in Antigua and Barbuda.
The findings, contained in two reports titled National Youth Consultation on the Mental Health Care Bill 2026: Findings and Recommendations Report and Youth Voices: A Mental Health Care Bill Survey Report, were formally presented by Jameel Lee of the Zenith Centre.
The initiative was a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Zenith Centre, UNICEF, and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and forms part of the Government’s efforts to develop modern, rights-based mental health legislation.
Approximately 1,000 young people participated in surveys, while another 300 took part in ten focus groups. Participants represented primary and secondary schools as well as the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS).
The consultation provided children and adolescents with an opportunity to share their experiences, concerns, expectations, and recommendations regarding mental health services and support systems. The findings are expected to help improve mental health awareness, reduce stigma, strengthen access to services, and ensure that the proposed legislation reflects the needs of young people.
Minister Joseph welcomed the contribution of the nation’s youth, emphasizing that meaningful reform requires inclusive and evidence-based 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,” Minister Joseph stated.
He also commended the Ministry of Education, the Zenith Centre, UNICEF, PAHO, and all partners involved in facilitating the consultation process.
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda says it remains committed to strengthening mental health services and advancing legislation that promotes dignity, protects human rights, and responds to the needs of its people.
