“Hundreds” of families traumatised by violence will get access to counselling as part of a $25 million social services package announced by David Burt, the Premier.

Enhanced programmes on gang violence and mental health issues, including funding for a youth-centred approach to social problems, were jointly announced yesterday by Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, and Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health.

Supplementary estimates for the 2024-25 fiscal year tabled by Mr Burt in the House of Assembly on Friday showed a $4.4 million allocation for the Ministry of National Security.

Mr Weeks said a primary focus of the funding would be to empower young Bermudians, especially those included in outreach under the Gang Violence Reduction Taskforce.

Participants nearing the end of high school will get more funding to obtain their General Education Development certificate.

Students meeting entrance requirements for the Bermuda College will receive support with fees for tuition, books and materials.

Mr Weeks added: “We are also expanding training options to include apprenticeships, local certifications and opportunities for overseas training.”

To address violence, Mr Weeks said the ministry’s co-ordinated crisis response team would be expanded for “individuals and communities affected by violence”, while extra resources would bolster its community counselling programme.

He added: “Recognising the profound effects on families, children and victims, this programme provides access to trained grief and trauma counsellors for a series of individual and group sessions.”

Mr Weeks noted that “hundreds of people on our island” were left dealing with the trauma of violence and said that the ministry would launch an individual counselling programme giving those dealing with trauma weekly, one-on-one sessions for ten to 12 weeks.

He said the island experienced an average of 20 major violent incidents per year — each affecting approximately ten people, including family members, children and close friends.

Mr Weeks highlighted a family counselling programme. He added: “These group sessions are designed for families who have lost loved ones or have members involved in gangs and need more impactful or meaningful support.”

He said group therapy would “strengthen family bonds and provide collective healing”.

Mr Weeks said the ministry planned additional support to existing community outreach and school programmes for at-risk youth.

He said the island’s public schools would get extra funding for their violence prevention and personal development programmes, allowing the gang violence reduction team to improve its delivery and reach.

The ministry will also ramp up support to organisations working with youth, such as sports clubs.

Mr Weeks said more funding was earmarked for the Department for National Drug Control’s grants to the addiction treatment provider Pathways Bermuda and Focus Counselling Services.

Ms Wilson pledged programmes to address mental health issues with compassion instead of stigma, after the supplementary estimates announced by the Premier included a $2.29 million for the ministry’s mental health support.

Ms Wilson said: “Mental health challenges could strike anyone, anywhere or at any time.

“Stigma and discrimination often stand in the way of individuals seeking to get the help that they desperately need resulting in unnecessary suffering and delayed recovery.”

She said the ministry would continue to dismantle such barriers, including a comprehensive mental health awareness campaign aimed at striking down stigma.

The ministry is to unveil a suicide prevention strategy and implement a community outreach programme to “engage local leaders and provide critical information and resources directly to where they’re needed most”.

Ms Wilson said the Mental Health Gap Action Programme, co-ordinated by the Bermuda Hospitals Board, would integrate mental health into primary care — making support “more accessible for all, especially in the early stages when it’s needed most”.

Ms Wilson outlined support for the island’s youth through school-based programmes, including health behaviour intervention for public schools.

The ministry plans to host a Youth Mental Health Summit, offering space for young people to socialise and feel empowered.

Ms Wilson said: “We want them to know that they are not alone and that they have the tools to support one another and themselves.

“This is about building resilience, fostering understanding and ensuring every young person knows there is help, hope and a community ready to lift them up.”

She said the ministry would continue with financial support for the “vital work” of organisations such as Age Concern, Family Centre, the Women's Resource Centre and Teen Services.