Jamaica is one of four countries piloting a global initiative that empowers adolescents to lead change using health data. Led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), with local support from the National Council on Drug Abuse, the data collected offers valuable insight into adolescent behaviours and school health environments.
In early 2023, over 3,000 students from 23 high schools in Spanish Town participated in Phase 1 of a global initiative aimed at empowering adolescents to use health data to lead change. The global initiative, led by the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization, was supported by the National Council on Drug Abuse, which assisted in gathering data through the implementation of the Adolescent Health Behaviour Surveys - the Global School Health Survey and the Global School Health Policies and Practices Study. The data will be used to guide the development of youth health interventions. A visit by PAHO’s Country Office to Guy’s Hill High School allowed representatives to observe data collection in action. The initiative’s next phase, held in September 2023, focused on gathering student perspectives on the barriers and facilitators to healthy living in their schools and communities.
In September 2023, Jamaican adolescents gathered in Kingston for the “Empowering Adolescents to Lead Change Using Health Data: Data to Action Workshop.” The three-day event built on baseline surveys conducted by the National Council on Drug Abuse, involving over 3,000 students across 20 schools in St. Catherine. Participants included students, parents, educators, health professionals, and community leaders who explored critical adolescent health issues such as substance use, diet, mental health, physical activity, and violence. Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Representative Ian Stein highlighted the urgent need to address childhood obesity and non-communicable diseases from an early age. The workshop is part of a global initiative led by the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization, with support from the University of Bern, UNESCO, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Ministry of Education, and other partners. It concluded with the development of a two-year action plan to improve adolescent health outcomes in selected schools. The Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Ministry of Education will lead its implementation, with support from the PAHO Country Office. Jamaica is one of four countries piloting this global initiative.
The garden was peaceful. Purposeful. Alive. From hidden rock speakers came the soft hum of motivational music. By day, the garden was abuzz with energy and conversation. By night, it transformed into a sanctuary, softly lit with coloured lights—each hue adding to the magic of reflection and healing.
This was the Wellness Garden, a dream realized through the hands of students, staff, family, and friends. A year in the making, it was more than just a garden—it was a symbol of hope. Built with recycled materials and a heart for sustainability, it echoed the school’s commitment to addressing mental wellness.
World Mental Health Day was commemorated globally on Friday, October 10, 2025. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recognized this day under the theme, “Empower, Connect, Care: Strengthening Child and Youth Mental Health in the Americas.” In collaboration with the PAHO Country Office for Jamaica, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands, and the St. Catherine Education Department (Region 6), the Ministry of Health and Wellness hosted a “Sip and Paint” event highlighting the intersection of art and mental wellness.
Approximately 60 students from the “Empowering Adolescents to Lead Change Using Health Data” project in St. Catherine, along with their guidance counsellors, participated in this interactive session. Through creative expression, students explored how art can be used as a therapeutic outlet to manage emotions, promote resilience, and foster self-awareness.
