Caribbean Disaster Capacity Building

This quarter, the Bahamas Resilience Center continued strengthening psychological resilience by delivering mental health education, workplace crisis support, and free counseling services throughout Grand Bahama and beyond.

Our team supported the mentees of Vessels of Purpose Elite through impactful discussions designed specifically for young people. Mrs. Stacey Bonnett, Counselor at the Grand Bahama Resilience Center, delivered “No Shame, Just Support: Teens Changing the Narrative.”Mrs. Bonnett was accompanied by Mrs. Jennifer Barnabie, Director of Programs at the Grand Bahama Resilience Center, whose presence and support added tremendous value to the session. Together, they created a welcoming environment where teens could learn about caring for their mental health, challenging stigma, and seeking support without shame.

Our team also engaged communities through awareness and resilience-building sessions in schools, churches, workplaces, community events, and national initiatives.

Recent engagements included:

• Swingers Junkanoo Group

• Ministry of Public Service

• Jack Hayward Junior High School

• Blessed Hope Community Health Fair

• Freeport Harbour Company

• Freeport Container Port

• Vessels of Purpose Elite’s Girls’ Weekend Empowerment Experience

• Carnival Celebration Key

During August, Dr. Felisha Saunders-McBride facilitated “Teaching Without Burnout: Protecting Your Peace and Purpose” for educators at Eight Mile Rock High School, while Dr. Andy Laing presented “Inclusivity: Supporting Every Learner” at Holmes Rock Junior High School. These sessions equipped educators with practical strategies for creating supportive and inclusive learning environments while protecting their personal well-being.

Dr. Laing and Dr. Saunders-McBride also provided psychological support and critical incident stress debriefings to employees affected by workplace grief, trauma, and other critical incidents across corporate Grand Bahama. These interventions provided confidential spaces for employees to process their experiences, learn grounding and coping strategies, and identify the need for individual follow-up support.

Our team of volunteer counselors continues to provide individual, family, and group counseling services to members of the public free of charge. This remains an essential part of our commitment to reducing financial barriers and ensuring that individuals and families can access support during periods of stress, trauma, grief, and other life challenges.

We have also continued our Problem Management Plus work in Grand Bahama, virtually in Jamaica, and across other islands of The Bahamas. Through this program, participants learn practical strategies for managing stress, addressing everyday problems, increasing meaningful activity, and strengthening social support.

Each of these activities contributes to the broader goals of the Disaster Capacity Building Project by:

• Expanding access to community-based mental health services

• Strengthening the capacity of professionals, volunteers, and community leaders

• Supporting communities affected by grief, trauma, and critical incidents

• Promoting mental health awareness and reducing stigma

• Providing practical tools that strengthen individual and community resilience

• Building connections that support the expansion of services throughout the Caribbean

We are grateful to our donors, partners, volunteers, and community members who make this work possible. Your support helps us bring mental health education, crisis response, and counseling directly into the places where people live, learn, work, and connect.

Together, we are building stronger systems of support and more resilient communities across Grand Bahama, The Bahamas, and the wider Caribbean.