Part One of a Two-Part Interview Series | Reported by TNN
TNN’s Trevor Lindsay sat down with Dr. Ernest Peets of the MASC organization to open up a conversation that Bermuda can no longer afford to ignore: the silent crisis of mental health—particularly among the island’s youth.
“First, thank you for taking the time to speak with me,” Trevor began. “We’re seeing a troubling trend of young people dying by suicide. What could be driving this?”
Dr. Peets didn’t hesitate. “It’s difficult to talk about, but it’s necessary,” he said. “From a clinical perspective, suicide is almost always the end result of untreated or undertreated mental health conditions. When someone no longer sees a path forward—when hope disappears—they may tragically choose to leave this world.”
As the Executive Director at MASC, a community-based initiative working largely with men and boys, Dr. Peets brings both a personal passion and a professional lens to the table. “Mental health struggles don’t always look the way we expect them to,” he explained. “Especially in males.”
One of the most alarming trends in Bermuda and globally is the rising rate of suicide among young people. And while the reasons are complex, Dr. Peets believes we’re beginning to see the compounded effects of trauma, stigma, and societal pressures.
“COVID really blew the lid off,” he said. “What people had been managing privately—sometimes barely—was pushed to the surface when lockdowns removed the coping mechanisms they once had. The impact was devastating, especially on mental health.”
According to Dr. Peets, Bermuda’s longer restrictions compared to other countries may have amplified that impact. “Everything changed. The isolation, the economic stress, the uncertainty—those are breeding grounds for emotional collapse,” he said. “In my 20 years in the field, I’ve never seen anything quite like this.”
But even amid the rising urgency, Dr. Peats sees hope.
“This is actually the most optimistic I’ve felt in my entire career,” he shared. “For the first time, people are openly talking about mental health. Services are expanding. There’s still work to do—still stigma, still resource gaps—but we are moving.”
The conversation turned to a recent wave of research focused on adolescents, which has been pivotal for MASC’s work. “We now have better insight into what our young people are facing. And that data is helping us make the case for what needs to be done—urgently and intentionally.”
•A Different Face of Depression•
Dr. Peets emphasized that not all mental health issues show up the same way—especially in boys and men.
“It’s easy to miss,” he warned. “Depression in males often shows up not as sadness, but as irritability, frustration, or even aggression. So what looks like a behavioral problem may actually be a mental health emergency.”
And that misreading has dangerous consequences. “Too many times, we’re shocked when someone takes their own life, but in hindsight, the signs were there. We just didn’t know what to look for.”
•The Call for Local Data•
Trevor asked how Bermuda can better understand who’s suffering and where help is needed most. Dr. Peets acknowledged that while much of the current data comes from North America and the UK, there’s a growing effort to build a stronger local database.
“Between the government, the hospitals, private practitioners, and insurance companies, we need to collect data specific to our population,” he said. “Data-driven policy is the way forward. It helps us target support and resources where they’re most needed.”
•What’s Next•
As the interview wrapped, Dr. Peets left viewers with a clear call to action: “Let’s stop brushing past the pain. Let’s pay attention—especially to our boys and young men and women. Let’s ask better questions, listen more closely, and treat mental health as essential, not optional.”
This interview marks the beginning of a two-part series exploring the intersection of mental health, youth, and community action in Bermuda. Stay tuned for the next installment as TNN and Dr. Peets continue this vital conversation.
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