A new national study has revealed a deeply troubling mental health crisis among Bahamian youth, with one in five students between the ages of 13 and 18 reporting they have attempted suicide, according to the 2025 Global School Health Survey.
Prime Minister Philip Davis described the findings as “staggering and heartbreaking” while addressing the issue at the signing of a major healthcare agreement with China.
“There is no single cause, but we know the pressures are real: the expectations, the silence, the bullying, the economic strain at home, and the ever-growing influence of social media,” Davis said. “The images, the comparisons, the pressure to be perfect — it’s too much.”
He emphasized that Bahamian children are “carrying burdens many of us can’t see, and, in some cases, can’t even begin to understand,” calling it not only a health crisis but also “a moral issue, a national issue, a call to action for government, for parents, for teachers, for churches, for communities.”
The survey collected data from more than 2,000 students across 35 schools on eight islands, offering a sobering snapshot of the pressures facing adolescents.
Among the key findings:
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25% of respondents said they have contemplated suicide
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20% reported having attempted suicide
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34% identified as active drinkers, with binge drinking rising from 2% in 1998 to 12%
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21.8% of teens reported using illegal drugs, with more than half saying their first exposure came at age 13 or younger
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Weapon carrying is on the rise, with nearly 20% admitting to carrying weapons
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7.7% said they are gang members
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While fewer teens are sexually active than in 1998, a larger share of those who are said they engage in unprotected sex
The results of the survey paint a picture of growing emotional distress, risky behavior, and increased exposure to violence among Bahamian youth, prompting urgent calls for coordinated intervention across all sectors of society.
