WISH Joins Regional Call to Action on Mental Health at OAS–PAHO Side Event at OAS 55th General Assembly

The Wadadli Initiative for Self-care and Healing (WISH) proudly observed the historic side event “Uniting the Americas for Mental Health: From Commitment to Action,” held on the margins of the 55th Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly at the AUA Convention Centre in Antigua.

Co-convened by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the event brought together heads of state, ministers, civil society leaders, and health experts to address the growing mental health crisis across Latin America and the Caribbean. The Honourable Prime Minister Gaston Browne delivered a powerful keynote address, emphasizing the urgent need to embed mental health into national development agendas, health systems, and education frameworks. WISH Founder Chaneil Imhoff, in attendance at the event, had the honour of meeting the Prime Minister following his remarks and reaffirmed her commitment to the cause. “Mental health is no longer just a conversation — it’s an action plan. WISH is committed to helping place Antigua and Barbuda at the forefront of regional mental health reform. The time to act is now,” said Imhoff.

Speakers at the event shared staggering statistics that underscore the crisis: depression and anxiety cost the global economy an estimated $1 trillion annually, while untreated mental health conditions are projected to cost $16 trillion by 2030. In Latin America and the Caribbean alone, more than 16 million adolescents live with a mental disorder, and over ten adolescents die by suicide every day. Seven in ten people in need of care across the Americas receive no support at all. These figures reflect the deep human and economic toll of inaction and highlight the necessity of regional coordination.

WISH welcomes the adoption of the OAS resolution “Addressing the Critical Mental Health Crisis in the Americas” and is actively working to support its implementation. The organization’s focus includes advocating for mental health policy integration across government sectors, introducing school-based programs to promote emotional literacy and early intervention, building community capacity to identify and respond to mental distress, and ensuring caregivers have the tools and training they need to support loved ones. WISH is also committed to advancing data collection, digital wellness tools, and regional partnerships that strengthen the mental health workforce.

WISH Founder Chaneil Imhoff and Renato Oliveira, PAHO’s regional Mental Health Advisor (picture by WISH)

Antigua and Barbuda can and must lead by example. The commitments made during the OAS–PAHO event must be followed by practical, well-funded implementation strategies that touch the lives of students, workers, parents, and communities. As WISH Founder Chaneil Imhoff noted, “We cannot afford to let this momentum pass us by. The cost of delay is measured in shattered lives and lost potential. We must act with urgency, empathy, and strategy.”

WISH is calling on local and regional stakeholders — including youth groups, educators, civil society, faith-based networks, and government partners — to join in this collective effort. This is not the responsibility of any one sector. It will take all of us, across borders and systems, to ensure that the mental health commitments forged in Antigua become everyday realities throughout the Americas.

As preparations continue for the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Mental Health and Noncommunicable Diseases this September, WISH stands ready to ensure that Caribbean voices help shape the global agenda. Mental health is a right, not a privilege, and the time to build a better system — rooted in compassion, access, and resilience — is now.