The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

ANN Marie Davis recently paid a courtesy call at the Bahamas Resilience Centre in Freeport and was impressed with the programmes offered to address and promote mental health wellness.

During a recent visit to Grand Bahama, Mrs Davis, of the Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister, toured the facility located at the Seahorse Shopping Plaza in Lucaya.

The Bahamas Resilience Centre opened its doors three years ago following Hurricane Dorian, helping those experiencing mental challenges and issues because of the widespread devastation and personal losses.

The facility is now in need of funding to remain open and continue to provide much needed services in the community.

Mrs Davis commended executive director Felisha McBride and her team for the work they are doing in the community regarding mental health wellness.

“I am so impressed that there are people who visit the centre from age two to 102 years, and I see this Resilience Centre as a place for anybody of any age to come here and find themselves,” she said.

Mrs Davis said the programmes and services offered are wide ranging and beneficial to people facing mental issues.

She was pleased about the various activities such as learning self-defence, sewing, knitting and other life skills that are available at the centre, as well as counselling.

In terms of self-defence, Mrs Davis said that it can boost a person’s self-confidence where they can walk and feel safe.

“There is also counselling where you can put any grief you have that is bothering you – that is taken care of here as well.

“Persons can get their dignity back. I am happy to see this place exists and it should be copied in other islands as well, especially where they suffer trauma,” he said.

She pledged her assistance in helping to find donors.

“I will help as much as I can to find donors or someone who can help with funding needed for places like these.”

Mrs Davis urged everyone to assist organisations like the Resilience Centre.

“It takes a village to raise a child. And a village needs anybody from teachers, nurses, doctors, and benefactors - people with money that will help you along. We need everyone to come together and support places like these.”

Winston Pinnock, Bahamas Ambassador to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), agreed with Mrs Davis.

“I think places like these deserve to be supported,” he said. “This started from a passion that she had with mental health issues and wellness, and I know of the great work that centre offers here.”

National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said his ministry supports community centres as ways to tackle the issue of crime, and other social issues.

He said mental health wellness is critical to addressing many issues in society.

“We have seen for instance an upswing in suicides which means that people have reached the level of desperation they see no point in going on living. And a place like this addresses all of those issues.

“We see that behind gang and retaliation murders, the next highest class of murders are domestic homicide - people not being able to address anger issues and interpersonal relationship issues, and places like this also addresses that,” he said.

Ms McBride was pleased that Mrs Davis was able to visit the centre.

“We feel hopeful,” she said. “She was really impressed with the work we are doing, and it was really encouraging to hear that from someone in that position who takes seriously the work we do.”

The Bahamas Resilience Centre was initially funded by Caritas, an international Catholic non-profit organisation that helped with home repairs following Dorian. The organisation also established the centre after recognising a gap in mental psycho-social support.

Ms McBride said Caritas provided financial support for the first two years upon leaving the island.

They asked if we were interested in carrying it on because so many people were benefiting from the service. They paid for us to become registered as a non-profit and we would be responsible for our funding,” she explained.

She said they were able to secure a grant from Templeton Foundation.

“That sustained us to this point, and we are looking for additional funding. We also received local support, and we tell people no donation is too big or small.”

Ms McBride said if people are not able to donate, the centre is always searching for volunteers to assist.