Latest youth conference covers antisocial acts, mental health
More than 60 young people discussed antisocial behaviour and mental health during Bermuda’s second annual National 18+ Youth Conference.
Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, told the House of Assembly that the conference gave her a taste of what young people wanted from their leaders.
She said: “The future of our island demands that we respond in a holistic, nurturing manner.
“This is what I heard from our youth when I attended the conference — and with this in mind, this is how I intend to respond.”
The youth conferences, which started in July last year, were a revamp of similar meetings hosted during the 1990s by Teen Services.
Ms Furbert said that the revitalised series tackled topics relevant to young people today.
She added that the conference showed that youngsters recognised people involved in antisocial behaviour still potentially cared about their communities.
Ms Furbert said: “We are living in increasingly complex and pressurised times.
“The pressure impacts both the old and the young, and our response to those pressures can make or break an individual and our community.”
The Office of Youth Affairs invited young people to the Sunday conference through the “Happy Hour Invasion“, during which the office discussed the conference between giveaways and trivia.
The Sunday conference underscored that 63 people under the age of 30 had been killed in violent crimes since 2003.
High school pupils analysed the topic during round-table discussion moderated by Trevor Lindsay of TNN.
The conference featured a brunch and panel discussion that took questions from the audience.
A mini information fair was introduced this year, where attendees learnt about the organisations that focused on helping young people.
Ms Furbert said that although antisocial behaviour and mental health were separate topics, they came with many similarities.
She added: “Our youth are savvy enough to see the connections and advocate for a holistic approach in dealing with it.
“For that, and many other reasons, I commend them.”
• To read the full statement, see Related Media
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