Health Department Launches “I Geh You” Campaign to Address Gen Z Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

The V.I. Department of Health has launched a territory-wide suicide prevention campaign focused on young people ages 14 to 26, citing a growing mental health crisis among teens and young adults and the need to better equip parents, caregivers and communities to support them. The three-month multimedia campaign, titled “I Geh You,” is being launched in May in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. It will reach residents across St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John through mainstream media, digital platforms, outdoor advertising and radio. “We are seeing a growing mental health crisis among our young people in the Virgin Islands,” said Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion. “Today’s teens and young adults are navigating pressures that previous generations did not experience at this scale — from constant social media exposure and cyberbullying to academic demands and uncertainty about their future. “We can also add to that the lasting impacts of recent hurricanes and the COVID-19 ...