A clinical psychologist has called for urgent interventions to save the lives of young people amid a spike in suicides in Barbados, mainly involving young men.“I am not saying it as a slogan, I am saying ‘God please, we need to get them the access to help that they need’,” Christa Soleyn pleaded while participating in a discussion on Youth Mental Health hosted by the United Nations Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean as part of events to mark International Youth Day.She warned that many young people are grappling with a range of issues and authorities must act now to provide a lifeline before it’s too late.“Lots of young people don’t know how to cope. I am talking about in schools,” Soleyn said, suggesting that intervention should start in a serious way in schools.
Keshawn Bartlett would be alive today had he received the love he needed.That was the consensus among many residents from Allen View, St. Thomas this evening as the dead body of the 21-year-old was being driven away in a Two Sons Funeral Home vehicle. His lifeless body was discovered hanging from a pear tree a few yards away from his family house sometime after three o’clock today.It is alleged that the former Lester Vaughan Secondary student committed suicide.The cries from Bartlett’s cousin, Sheldon Lemon, pierced the quiet as many huddled talking about the event. Then, speaking to Barbados TODAY, another cousin Rommell Lemon’s emotions switched from grief to anger as he charged that a lack of love was the real reason for Bartlett’s death.