The Heroes Foundation investigated youth Mental Health and Wellbeing as part of the HDP due to the increased reports of child abuse and neglect during the COVID-19 pandemic and mass migration of Venezuelans. This formative assessment is one of the measures that will assess the effectiveness of implemented interventions. The aim was to benchmark the MH and Wb scores of students enrolled in the HDP. In this cross-sectional study, the sample population were students and children from interested secondary schools and migrant groups. Self-reported online surveys were disseminated to participants, 10 to 18 years old, whose authorised adults consented to their participation. Both surveys were adapted from standard surveys and translated to Spanish for migrants. There were 311 participants. Locals were “At risk” of Separation Anxiety Disorders (22%), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (48%), Mood Disorders (37%) and Conduct Disorder (CD) (44%) and 17% of migrants were “At risk” of CD. Less than 40% of the locals were “At risk” of Social (38%) and Academic (34%) problems. Migrants were “At risk” of Social (48%) and Academic (78%) problems. Majority of the locals (94%) and migrants (95%) were “At risk” of Emotional problems. This formative assessment observed that local and migrant participants were “At risk” of developing specific mental health and behavioural problems. This evidence will be used to i) inform curriculum development (design and intervention) and ii) support public policy development.

Authors:
Christina Joseph, The Heroes Foundation, Trinidad and Tobago
Michael Pierre, The Heroes Foundation, Trinidad and Tobago

About the Presenter(s)
Ms CHRISTINA JOSEPH is a Independent Scholar at The Heroes Foundation in Trinidad and Tobago

See this presentation on the full schedule – On Demand Schedule

Bookmark