Kingston, Jamaica, 17 October 2025 (PAHO) - 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.
In 2023, St. Catherine, Jamaica, joined three other cities—Sekondi-Takoradi (Ghana), Jaipur (India), and Fez (Morocco) - to develop, document, and support the implementation of an intervention model, “Empowering Adolescents to Lead Change Using Health Data,” aimed at improving student health. The implementation phase utilized two major data sources: the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) and the Global School Health Policies and Practices Study (G-SHPPS). These were complemented by photovoice activities, allowing students to capture images representing key health concerns in their communities.
Building on these insights, a three-day interactive workshop was convened with students. Health data posters from the results of the GSHS and G-SHPPS identified pressing health issues from the photovoice and prioritized areas for action using the Global Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents (AA-HA!) framework. This approach emphasized identifying needs, assessing existing policies, and proposing feasible, culturally appropriate interventions.
Among the key thematic priorities identified, mental health emerged as a key focus area for action over the next two years. The objective is to increase awareness and reduce stigma around mental health within the 12 intervention schools by the end of 2025. Strategies include school-based and social media campaigns, as well as World Mental Health Day activities.
Two art campaigns are currently being implemented to sustain engagement:
1.“How Do You Cope?” Instagram Campaign
Managed by the St. Catherine Mental Health Department, this online campaign invites students to share artwork and literary reflections on coping with emotions. Submissions are featured on Instagram (@stcatherinementalhealthja), creating a virtual space for youth expression and connection. Appropriate referrals are made as needed, and the page will continue to showcase student reflections.
2. School Art Collaboration Campaign
Set to begin shortly, this second campaign encourages both individual and classroom art projects focused on the project’s top five health themes, including mental health. The goal is to stimulate dialogue and destigmatize mental health through creative collaboration.
At the heart of the campaigns’ efforts is the recognition that art is both creative and therapeutic. Through painting, poetry, and other creative forms, adolescents can safely express their emotions, process experiences, and build resilience. Research continues to affirm that engaging in art enhances coping skills, self-awareness, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities among adolescents.
