SHARING IN the conversation around National Mental Health Month, which is recognised in May, the non-profit organisation Motivate Ja hosted a three-day online forum from May 25 to 27 dubbed ‘Mental Matters’.
Outlining the thought behind their latest initiative, which was hosted on Zoom, Randall said: “Mental Matters was focused on opening up a safe space for persons to share and learn about mental health and wellness in Jamaica.
The conversation of breaking the stigma was very important for this campaign as well because the community of silent sufferers is very large, and Motivate Ja wanted to focus on educating persons that mental health matters, and we have to talk more about it so that together, we can learn how to play our parts in providing community assistance to those who are held hostage to unhealthy emotions and how we can involve ourselves in mental-health promotion, prevention, care, and rehabilitation.”
Motivate Ja partnered with the Jamaica Mental Health Advocacy Network (JAMHAN), which is a host of professionals and advocates offering counselling and training services as they seek to raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding mental illness, and also included were special guests who are still battling or have battled with mental disorders.
Noting the importance of forums such as Mental Matters, Assistant Director at JAMHAN Bathsheba Shaw, who presented on Night 3 of the event, said: “It can assist with normalising conversations surrounding mental health within families.
