Ira Mathur, President of the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) will address issues related to Adolescent Mental Health and the Media at an online forum hosted by the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO).

The event will take place on Tuesday, November 29th, from 10am-11.30am and is open to members of the media, relevant stakeholders and interested parties.

The webinar, ‘Partnering with the Media on Adolescent Mental Health’, is the final in a series of activities being held as part of a national Adolescent Mental Health Project.

Dr. Erica Wheeler, PAHO/WHO Country representative will provide background to the Project and offer a global perspective on adolescent mental health.

Other presenters include Ginelle McConnie-Crichlow, Psychiatric Social Worker, Child and Adolescent Centre (CAC) of the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA) and Karline Brathwaite, Mental Health Planner, Ministry of Health.

As a result of research conducted nationally, the Adolescent Mental Health Project is focused on supporting young people in the area of Mental Health.

It is focused on encouraging young persons to harness their creative passions as a means to manage mental health, and provide an outlet for expressing their emotions, and other positive outcomes.

The project also aims to reduce stigma around mental health and encourage healthy conversations around mental health amongst youth, educators and parental figures.

A committee of young persons from across the country, aged 10-19 years created poetry, spoken word, dance, visual arts and other creative pieces, that highlighted or addressed a mental health issue affecting youth.

Additionally, the young people joined Marge Blackman and Neval Chatelal to perform the project theme song, “We Have Love”, written by Ms Blackman.

The Adolescent Mental Health Project is spearheaded by the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), in partnership with the UNDP, UNICEF, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth Development and National Service, the Tobago House of Assembly and civil society stakeholders.

Please click here to register for the Webinar – Partnering with the Media on Adolescent Mental Health

For information and help for young people in the area of mental health and to find out more about the Adolescent Mental Health Project here.