The United Nations Children Education Fund Offers Free Psychosocial Support for Young Persons Here Who are Suffering Strain from COVID-19

Young persons on the island who are suffering from the strain caused by COVID-19 now have another avenue to seek help.

The United Nations Children Education Fund in the Eastern Caribbean is offering a free psychosocial support programme.

Those who need this service can join a panel discussion on Thursday involving regional youth mental health advocates and practitioners to learn how to gain access to the services available.

The discussion will be led by Child Production Specialist at UNICEF office for the Eastern Caribbean Heather Stewart and Clinical Psychologist Annick Kayitesi Jozan.

The platform is being run by Eutelmed, an independent and multicultural network of international healthcare
professionals providing telemedicine.

The Eastern Caribbean programme portal is already proving to be useful to users who are struggling to cope with the psychosocial issues arising on the job from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to offering a 24/7 hotline and chat option, the portal presents a resource section packed with reading information as well as a self-assessment area where the online audience can assess their sleep quality, stress or emotional state.

All aspects of the service are anonymous, and as in the case of Ann, persons must give permission to be
contacted for in-depth counselling.