400 students on suicide watch

“Suicide is a public health crisis in this country and has extended to the very young and very vulnerable students as well,” she added.

Khan was among several mental health professionals who went before a Joint Select Committee of Parliament yesterday, enquiring into the state of mental health services and facilities.

“We have an idea of how critical the problem is,” she said, but the system is falling short on follow up and monitoring on what was happening to the students, and on treatment and interventions they were receiving.

Dr Khan said there is a glaring lack of child and adolescent mental health services in TT.

Medically, if a child is injured and is suicidal he/she can be admitted to a hospital, she said.

“Past that, there is very little that is available. With respect to psychological and counselling services there is very little that is available.” Services currently available are two child guidance clinics, one on Pembroke Street, Port of Spain and the other in Pleasantville, San Fernando, operating under the aegis of the South West Regional Health Authority.

The clinics have a minimum of six months waiting time due to demand.

Asked about specific training in child psychology at the UWI, St Augustine campus, Khan said, “We are not accepting an intake in September largely because of financial reasons.” While the UWI cannot afford to run the programme, she said, it is in heavy demand not just in TT but across the Caribbean. Dumps shop

As to the role that the Secondary Entrance Assessment was contributing to children’s mental health, she said, it was a valid argument for a study.

The nature of this exam, where parents and students feel if a student does not pass for a certain school, their academic trajectory is dismal, Dr Khan said, puts a lot of pressure on parents and children.