In a bold and deeply personal address at the side event “Uniting the Americas for Mental Health: From Commitment to Action”, Prime Minister the Honourable Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda issued a compelling call to leaders across the Western Hemisphere to treat mental health as a top development and public health priority.
The event, co-hosted by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), was held during the 55th Regular Session of the Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly at the AUA Convention Centre.
“We stand at a moment when a grave crisis—long hidden in plain sight—demands our collective resolve,” Prime Minister Browne said, as he urged governments, health institutions, and communities to “transform commitment into measurable action.”
Citing staggering statistics, Prime Minister Browne noted that over 16 million adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean live with mental health disorders, and more than 10 young people die by suicide every day in the region. He emphasized that seven out of ten people who need mental health care in the hemisphere receive no support—no counseling, no medication, and no community services.
“When we neglect mental health, we do not save money; we invest in failure,” he warned, referencing a 2024 study showing that untreated mental illness costs the U.S. economy $282 billion annually, and similar costs are undermining economies throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Prime Minister announced the adoption of a landmark resolution piloted by Antigua and Barbuda, entitled “Addressing the Critical Mental Health Crisis in the Americas.” The resolution calls for:
- Mobilizing resources for awareness campaigns
- Funding scholarships in psychology and psychiatry
- Integrating mental health screenings into primary healthcare systems
“We must embed mental healthcare into primary care, make screening routine, and train health workers to detect early signs of distress,” Prime Minister Browne declared.
He called for regional governments to increase mental health budgets beyond the current 2–3% allocation, stating that this level of funding is “a decision to allow suffering and loss to continue and to grow.”
In one of the most poignant moments of the speech, Prime Minister Browne shared his own family’s experience with mental illness, reflecting on the challenges faced by his late mother.
“Society whispered judgments, but in our home, love prevailed,” he said. “In her memory—and for the hundreds of thousands like her—we must dismantle every wall of shame and build bridges of understanding.”
He stressed the importance of supporting caregivers, building emotionally supportive schools and workplaces, and empowering communities and faith-based organizations to break the stigma surrounding mental illness.
In addition, Prime Minister Browne called on OAS Member States to align their efforts with the Fourth High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, scheduled to take place in September at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He urged that commitments made in Antigua and Barbuda inform and strengthen the upcoming global Political Declaration on mental health.
He also proposed the creation of:
- A regional research and development program on mental health
- A data observatory using AI and technology to track progress
- Public–private partnerships to support wellness programs and scholarships
“Let’s develop a culture of love for our shared humanity… empathy and support for those with mental health challenges to end the stigma, condemnation, isolation, and rejection,” he said in closing.
The Prime Minister’s remarks underscored a bold new direction for mental health across the Americas—one grounded in compassion, policy reform, and sustained investment.
“Together, let us work towards a future where mental health is given the investment it deserves to achieve the well-being of each person and the prosperity of all our societies.”
