MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
More Than Strong: The Mental struggle we don’t talk about
Written by: Shanteisha Howell
There is a saying many of us grew up hearing, whether in a Jamaican household or across the wider Caribbean: “Pray ‘bout it.” And while there is power in prayer, there are some battles that require more than silence, and more than endurance. Mental health is one of those battles.
For generations, across Jamaica and the Caribbean diaspora, mental health, at times, can be treated like something to hide and be ashamed of. Something to whisper about or that only “other people” deal with. You might hear someone say, “A mad people,” or “She just a look attention.” And just like that, a real struggle gets dismissed and a real person gets overlooked.
But the truth is, those “mad people” are someone’s relative. A loved one who did not get the “attention” they needed, in the form of medical treatment.
Across the Caribbean, one in every four adults is living with a mental health condition, and more than half of them never receive treatment (Barbados Ministry of Health and Wellness, n.d.). That means in our families, friend groups, and churches, there are people quietly carrying things we cannot see.
In Jamaica, about 1 in every 7 people experiences depression (Jamaica Ministry of Health & Wellness, n.d.) and still, it is something we do not speak about openly. Even our young people are feeling it. Nearly 1 in 4 adolescents across the Caribbean show signs of mental health struggles (PAHO & Caribbean adolescent mental health research, 2023), and many of them are learning early how to suffer in silence.
And still, we push through. We go to work. We show up for our families. We laugh at gatherings. We cook, we dance, we celebrate. But underneath all of that, many of us are tired. Not just physically, but emotionally and mentally tired.
Within the Jamaican culture, we wear strength like a badge of honor. Especially as women. We are taught to hold it together. To take care of everybody else first. To endure. And while that strength is beautiful, it can also become heavy when there is no space to put it down.
For many of us, mental health struggles are seen as weakness. Some were raised to believe that if you are feeling anxious or depressed, you just need to pray harder or be stronger. And while faith is important, that belief can sometimes keep people from getting the help they need. Research continues to show that stigma is one of the biggest reasons people in the Caribbean do not seek support. So instead, we say we are “just tired.” We say we are “just stressed.” We keep it moving.
But silence does not heal. If anything, silence deepens the wound.
Across the region, anxiety continues to rise, even higher than global averages in some areas, yet many of us are still navigating it alone. And in some Caribbean countries, the consequences are severe, with suicide rates that remind us this is not an issue we should dismiss.
Breaking that silence does not mean abandoning our culture. It means making room for conversations that our parents and grandparents may not have had the language for. It’s recognizing that taking care of our mental health is just as important as taking care of our physical health.
So, what does that look like for us, as Jamaican Women of Florida and beyond?
It looks like checking in with each other and actually listening to the answer. Not just “You good?” out of habit, but a real pause to hear, “No, I am not. Creating safe spaces where we can speak freely without fear of judgment. Spaces where someone can say, “Mi tired,” and not feel like they have to explain it away. Taking it a step further, normalizing therapy and counseling, not as a last resort, but as a form of care. Because just like we go to a doctor for our bodies, we can seek support for our minds. Educating ourselves and learning the signs can also go a long way. Understanding that mental health does not always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like withdrawal. Irritability. Constant fatigue. Losing interest in the things that once brought joy.
Everybody is carrying something. For some, it is grief, for others, it is pressure, but for many, it is years of unspoken pain. When we choose compassion over judgment, we begin to shift the culture of silent battles and taking “bad tings, mek joke.”
There is something powerful about community in Caribbean culture. We show up for each other in times of celebration and in times of loss. Mental health awareness is another opportunity for us to show up. So, the next time someone says they are not okay, believe them. Sit with them. Encourage them. And if you are the one who is not okay, know this: you do not have to carry it alone. Strength is not just in enduring. Sometimes, strength is in speaking.
Join the Conversation: The Jamaican Women of Florida invites the community to participate in this month’s Fireside Chat Series, Strong on the Outside: Real Talk on Mental Health and Emotional Wellness. This discussion will provide a safe and supportive space for honest conversations surrounding mental health, emotional healing, and wellness within Caribbean communities. The event will feature mental health professionals, advocates, and community leaders who will share insights on breaking stigma, prioritizing emotional wellness, and encouraging healing.
Event Details: Date: May 28, at 7:00 PM on Zoom.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jwof-fireside-chat-series-tickets-1987755517261
Mental health matters. Healing matters. Seeking support matters. By continuing these conversations, Caribbean communities can create healthier, more supportive environments where individuals feel empowered to seek help, heal, and thrive.
References
Barbados Ministry of Health and Wellness. (n.d.). Mental health conditions on the rise. https://health.gov.bb/News/Press-Releases/Mental-Health-Conditions-On-The-Ri
Jamaica Ministry of Health & Wellness, National NCD Initiative Programme. (n.d.). Depression. https://ncdip.moh.gov.jm/non-communicable-disease/depression/
Pinder-Amaker, S., et al. (2023). Mental health among Caribbean adolescents: A review of prevalence and associated factors. PubMed Central. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10196301/