Basseterre, Saint Kitts, March 12, 2026 (SKNIS) — Leaders in government, education, health, and civil society gathered on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the CUNA Conference Centre for the “Building a Safe Space at Home” animation launch and Mental Health Dialogue, an initiative under the Mental Health Service System Enhancement Project implemented in partnership with the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), the Ministry of Health, and LAKE Health and Wellbeing.
The event focused on improving the mental health of young people by strengthening one of the most important environments in their lives — the home. The initiative recognises that creating safe, supportive, and understanding spaces within families is essential for helping young people navigate the challenges of today’s world.
The forum provided an opportunity for participants to explore the mental health challenges young people face and to discuss practical solutions to support them. The event brought together government leaders, counsellors, parents, representatives from civil society, teachers, and students, reinforcing the shared responsibility required to strengthen youth mental well-being.
Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Saint Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency Edward Tao, highlighted the growing global recognition of mental health as a critical component of overall well-being.
“In recent years, we have seen a global shift in perspective,” said Ambassador Tao. “Governments are increasingly focusing on mental health. Governments now realise that mental well-being is a core element of health care. The treatment of psychiatric illness is not the sole responsibility of hospitals or specialists, it is a shared mission that begins within our families, schools, and communities.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, the Honourable Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, emphasised the critical role families play in shaping children’s development and their ability to succeed in school.
“This animation speaks to a simple but powerful truth, a child's first safe space is the home,” Dr. Hanley stressed. “Before a child enters a classroom, before they interact with the wider society, it is within the family that they learn trust, communication, emotional regulation and resilience.”
He further noted the strong connection between mental well-being and educational outcomes.
“From the perspective of the Ministry of Education, we see daily the connection between mental well-being and learning outcomes. A child who feels safe, heard and supported at home is more likely to engage positively at school, to manage challenges and to build healthy relationships with peers and teachers,” Deputy Prime Minister Hanley stated.
Prime Minister and Minister of Health, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, also welcomed the launch of the programme. In his remarks, Dr. Drew stressed that addressing mental health is central to the government’s broader strategy for tackling crime and violence in the Federation.
Based on data gathered by experts, he indicated that the leading root cause of violence in Saint Kitts and Nevis is linked to mental health challenges.
“This programme is delivering exactly what is being recommended by the [Citizen Security] Secretariat, that we have to deal with the mental health of our young people if we are to deal with the issue of crime and violence,” said Prime Minister Drew, who noted that initiatives such as this align with the government’s approach of addressing crime and violence through a public health framework…
And to see that you have come up with a solution, a possible solution to it, tells me that we are definitely on the right path,” Dr. Drew added.
The “Building a Safe Space at Home” animation and dialogue represents an important step in raising awareness, strengthening support systems, and equipping families with tools to nurture emotionally healthy and resilient young people.
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