WILLEMSTAD – Researchers and professionals across the Caribbean are being invited to contribute to an upcoming interdisciplinary seminar on youth, life skills, and mental health, scheduled for October 16, 2025, in Willemstad. The event will also be accessible online to allow for wider participation.

The call for papers is open until September 20, 2025. Abstracts of up to 150 words, accompanied by a short biography, can be submitted through a dedicated online form. Selected contributions will be published in a forthcoming volume, and young researchers will be offered mentoring to further develop their work.

Organizers stress that the seminar responds to pressing challenges faced by Caribbean youth, who are navigating the effects of poverty, social inequality, cultural pressures, and climate change. Limited access to tailored mental health care only adds to their vulnerability. By focusing on life skills education and supportive community structures, the initiative aims to empower young people, enhance resilience, and foster personal growth.

The program will feature research presentations, case studies, workshops, and networking sessions. Topics on the agenda include culturally responsive frameworks for mental health, youth-led empowerment strategies, school and neighborhood-based interventions, the influence of social media, and innovative methods that actively engage children and adolescents.

The seminar is being organized by a collaborative team of experts: Prof. Ajay Bailey (Utrecht University), Prof. Ashley Duits (Curaçao Biomedical Health Research Institute), Drs. Royla Pierre and Drs. Tarini Pandt (Roman Catholic School Board Curaçao).

This gathering represents a rare opportunity to unite academic, professional, and community voices across the region to build stronger foundations for youth well-being in the Caribbean.