Record Turnout Of More Than 500 Attends Youth Mental Health Symposium

(CMR) The Alex Panton Foundation (APF) welcomed its largest audience to date for the 9th Annual Youth Mental Health Symposium on Saturday, 21 February 2026, bringing together more than 500 attendees for a full-day program focused on practical strategies to strengthen youth mental health in the Cayman Islands.

Held at Hotel Indigo under the theme “Lighting the Way: Turning Hope Into Action,” the standing-room-only event drew families, educators, healthcare professionals, policymakers and community leaders from across the Islands. More than 30 exhibitors participated, providing information on services and support pathways available to young people and families. Across the day, technical presentations were interwoven with deeply personal reflections, underscoring the human impact behind the data.

Following opening remarks from Her Excellency Governor Jane Owen highlighting the importance of sustained national focus on youth mental health, Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainability Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks noted that approximately 12.5% of Cayman’s high school students have received a mental health diagnosis.

She outlined several government initiatives now underway, including progress toward a national mental health policy, development of a national suicide awareness campaign, funding for a dedicated adolescent mental health ward at the Anthony S. Eden Hospital, and plans for a mobile mental health nursing team to strengthen community-based support.

APF Chair Jane Panton delivered deeply personal reflections on the loss of her son Alex, whose memory inspired the Foundation’s work. She urged parents and caregivers to take five key actions: observe with curiosity, lead with an open mind, create intentional points of connection, practice reflection and perspective-taking, and listen to understand rather than to respond.

Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale spoke through both a professional and distinctly personal lens, noting she approached youth mental health as a mother first and a judge second. Drawing on her own experience parenting a child who faced mental health challenges, she spoke candidly about the uncertainty many families encounter in navigating these issues. She said that perspective has also shaped what she sees within the court system, where young people and families often come into contact with services later than they should. She emphasised the importance of better understanding neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD and ensuring children are met early with informed, coordinated and compassionate support.

Providing an evidence-based overview of mental health conditions in teens and young adults, Dr. Stenette Davis, consultant psychiatrist, Integra Healthcare, emphasised the critical distinction between symptoms and diagnosable disorders and highlighted the strong connection between family functioning and youth mental health outcomes. He noted that ADHD remains among the most treatable mental health conditions when properly identified and supported.

Senior counseling psychologist Dr. Jennifer Robertson of Aspire Therapeutic Services introduced the concept of “radical acceptance” as a practical skill adults can use to respond more effectively in emotionally charged situations. She explained how reducing resistance and reacting less defensively can strengthen trust, emotional safety and communication with young people.

Hylton Grace, correctional counsellor with the Cayman Islands Government, emphasised the importance of equipping community members with the confidence and practical skills to recognise emerging mental health concerns and respond appropriately through Mental Health First Aid principles, reinforcing the value of early, informed intervention.

Focusing on younger children, Dr. Pearlyn Henry-Burrell, acting principal of Theoline L. McCoy Primary School, emphasised that emotional regulation begins with helping children feel safe. She noted that a distressed nervous system cannot access language or learning and highlighted the importance of intentional calming spaces and responsive supports within school environments.

Dr. Ryan Punambolam, consultant neurologist at Doctors Hospital, delivered a neuroscience-focused session that deepened understanding of the developing adolescent brain and the impact of chronic stress on emotional regulation, behaviour and decision-making, reinforcing the importance of informed adult responses.

Counsellor Elissa Gross of Infinite Mind Care explored how creative expression can help teens move from overwhelm to hope. Drawing on both clinical experience and expressive arts therapy, she explained how art and sensory activities can regulate the nervous system and give young people alternative ways to communicate emotional distress that may be difficult to verbalise.

The afternoon panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Chantal Basson, Chair of the Alex Panton Foundation Clinical and Education Committee, brought together Elizabeth Brown-Richmond of John Gray High School, Toni Edwards, APF Youth Ambassador Monique Hibbert, and Laura Larner of Your Paradise Life. Panelists shared candid perspectives from the classroom, youth advocacy and coaching environments, offering practical examples of how connection, consistency and trusted adult relationships help build resilience in young people. The discussion provided an inspiring and relatable perspective on the role adults and communities play in supporting youth mental health, reinforcing the importance of coordinated support across families, schools, health services and the wider community.

Miles Ruby of the Family Resource Center presented an evidence-based framework for parenting and resilience, highlighting the long-term impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and emphasising that nurturing, responsive parent-child relationships remain one of the most powerful protective factors against toxic stress.

Premier Hon André M. Ebanks encouraged the normalisation of help-seeking behaviour. He credited the Alex Panton Foundation with helping to reduce stigma around mental health in the Cayman Islands, noting that more people, including within his own circles, are becoming more willing to seek support. He likened seeking help for mental health concerns to visiting the dentist for a toothache, emphasising the importance of early and practical intervention.

Closing the Symposium, APF Executive Director Emily Kelly said the record attendance reflected growing national engagement around youth mental health.

“Each of us as adults has a role to be a steady light in the lives of our young people,” Kelly said. “Youth mental health requires sustained partnership across families, schools, health services and the wider community, and this year’s record attendance reflects growing demand for practical, evidence-based tools adults can apply in real-world settings. We are grateful to our speakers, sponsors, volunteers, exhibitors and attendees for making this impactful day possible.”

Sponsors included: Butterfield Bank (Cayman) Limited, Tower, Stingray Media, Dart, Maples Group, Cayman Islands Health Services Authority, Cayman Marl Road, Cinico, Doctors Express, Greenlight Reinsurance, Ltd, Integra Healthcare, Ministry of Education & Training, Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability, Ministry of Youth, Sports & Heritage, Mourant, OceanMed, Ogier, Ugland Properties and more.