A 15-year-old boy asks his mom to see a counselor and she asks him if he is not afraid of what his friends would say and if he doesn’t want to just talk to the pastor right after church and nobody would know why.
A workplace, very discreetly, refers a woman who is demonstrating strange behaviour that is affecting coworkers to a counselor and she goes to the union complaining that they think she is crazy.
In Antigua and Barbuda, we have over multiple district clinics and health centers and we can count on one hand, at how many we are able to access mental health services.
It’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and still, too many of us are whispering about what should be spoken out loud — with strength, clarity, and care. Mental health is not a luxury, a weakness, or a side issue. It is health, plain and simple. Just like we take care of our bodies, we must take care of our minds and emotions with the same level of urgency, understanding, and compassion.
Far too often, people suffer in silence. They go to work with heavy hearts, smile through anxiety, or parent through depression. And they do this because somewhere along the line, they were taught that emotional pain should be hidden. That if you’re “strong enough” you’ll get over it. That therapy is for the broken. That crying is weakness. These are myths, and they are dangerous.
Let me be clear – mental health challenges do not discriminate. They affect people of all backgrounds, ages, and social status. Stress, trauma, grief, anxiety, and depression are human experiences — not moral failings. You would never tell someone with diabetes to “just be positive” or someone with asthma to “snap out of it”. So why do we say these things when it comes to emotional struggles?
Part of the problem is how we’ve been socialized. In many Caribbean households, mental health is a taboo topic. We’re told to “pray about it”, “tough it out”, or “keep family business private”. While faith, resilience, and privacy have their place, they should never come at the expense of someone’s well-being. Healing requires safe spaces and supportive conversations — not shame and secrecy.
The good news is that things are slowly changing. More people are opening up. More professionals are advocating for access to care. But we still have work to do—especially in normalizing therapy and making support feel accessible and not foreign.
So, what can you do?
Start by speaking about mental health like you would any other health issue. If you’re struggling, reach out to a friend, a therapist, or a support group. Don’t downplay what you’re feeling. If someone confides in you, listen without judgment. Encourage your workplace, your church, your school, or your family to include mental wellness in everyday conversations. Share resources. Be vulnerable. Ask for help.
There is no shame in seeking peace of mind. Therapy is not about fixing what’s broken. It’s about understanding yourself, healing old wounds, and learning better ways to cope and connect. Whether you’re dealing with something big or just trying to manage everyday stress, mental health care is for you.
Let’s stop whispering. Let’s speak boldly, act bravely, and treat mental wellness as the priority it truly is. Because the truth is simple; there is no health without mental health.
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