In recent years, youth violence has been on the rise across the Caribbean. Defined as intentional physical harm between individuals aged 10 to 24, it spans everything from fistfights to stabbings and shootings, where young people are often both victims and perpetrators.
During a recent coaching session with 7th graders in Jamaica, several students shared that their first instinct is to fight… no arguments, just whatever object they can grab, from lunch boxes to scissors and knives.
The pandemic stripped young people of key social interactions, support systems, and worsened already difficult economic realities. Many now turn to violence to express frustration or as a way to survive. Unfortunately, conflict resolution and de-escalation are not skills many of them have learned. While accountability is important, it’s not enough. We need preemptive, long-term strategies. Youth violence is a public health issue—and governments must treat it as such.
