ORANJESTAD (AAN): Youth mental health not improving Aruba remains a serious concern despite increased awareness and information campaigns, according to Rubiella Toppenberg, Preventive Worker at Fundacion Anti Droga Aruba (FADA).
In an interview with Matutino DIARIO, Toppenberg stated that at the start of the year, FADA has received a high number of requests related to mental health topics. However, she emphasized that youth mental health not improving Aruba is evident as the same problems continue to surface.
Toppenberg explained that while young people are receiving information about mental health—especially through school programs—there is a critical lack of follow-up support. According to her, awareness alone is not enough if young people do not know where to seek help or are unable to access timely assistance when they do.
“Youth mental health not improving Aruba is connected to the fact that when help is requested, there are often long waiting periods,” she said. “When someone reaches out and must wait months, that person may be lost.”
She pointed to a troubling increase in suicides among young people and noted that the age at which these incidents occur appears to be getting younger. At the same time, drug use among youth is rising, which she attributes to a lack of accessible support systems.
Toppenberg stressed that youth mental health not improving Aruba shows the urgent need for collaboration among foundations, institutions, and mental health partners. She called for joint discussions to identify where the system is failing and how to ensure that young people receive immediate and effective support.
She concluded by emphasizing that the problem is not a lack of information, but a lack of accessible care when help is actively sought.
