Mental Illness
"The Smoke Screen"

In recent times, there have been an amazing trend in promoting mental health and removing the stigma attached to mental illness. However, a heavy cloud still lingers over the issue and leads one to wonder whether these attempts are 'trendy nine days wonder' or serious efforts to sustainably assist those with mental illness.


I have arrived at this assertion because of experiences I have had, observations I have made and the realities that exists. Quite frankly, removing the stigma attached to persons with mental illness is easier said than done. This is evident in how we treat with the mind/brain.

Consider the following illustration: when we come across an individual who has injured a limb or even an eye, there is a certain amount of sympathy shown and urgency towards improving their misfortune. On the contrary, a disease of the mind is met with much scuff, scorn, shunning and scorching pity. It is as though the mentally ill individual ceases to be fully human and has taken on 'alien traits' unfit for the 'sensibly constructs' of a 'sane' world. Thus, the isolation of the sane and insane becomes more that just classifications but more so, rooted mental slavery for those with 'shackled minds'.

In essence, there exists a smoke screen when it comes on to the attitude towards persons with mental illness. October brings with it, its fair share of awareness and de-stigmatization. Dated with campaigns, forums, sympathy and even temporary dutch courage for those ailing from mental illness. The sudden change of heart and soothing perspectives makes it easy to believe in a possible stigma reveloution and maybe even...a "Stigma Run"


What happens throughout the year though? What becomes of the awareness and the supposedly de-stigmatization. Why does a metally ill student on medication gets cast out of a brotherhood? Why is a metally ill cousin seen as an embarrassment and a chore? Staying home with the passing years, ignorant to how the changing world operates? Why is a mentally ill child hushed and made to think they are causing their worries?

 Why is mental illness associated predominantly with eating from the trash can, clothse indecently fitted; hair matted and odor rotten? Why do we not emphasize and desist from making taboo, the fact that even depression should be taken seriously?

So many 'whys' that our forums and campaigns neglect to address to the core. Instead, fancy posters, grand decors and of cousre media coverage takes the fore. The issue of mental illness continues in the minds of many after the season of coverage has passed...literally!
Lady Justice, is mental illness a crime? Will the relvance of October continue to plea #Insanity or will we put our hand across our breasts and become heroes and heroines of our mental wellness and that of others?

Lady Justice, what can we do differently? Here are my tips to you:

⦁ Conduct more advertisements and public awareness campaigns throughout the year about mental health (illness and wellness). This will aid in consistency, relevance and a normalization of discussions surrounding the topic. Hence, more time is allocted for persons to come forward with their stories and reintegration for those recovering will not be so daunting.

⦁ Encourage community and family members to seek help for the mentally ill members around them instead of concealing the situation or settling for confinement in the home/community with little to no medical attention.

⦁ Do not ignore cases of trauma or other streesful situations on self or on any other individual. Speak about these emotions and get professional advises too. Sometimes, these "little" emotions fester, leading up to a big break.

⦁ Support assylums. Seek out their needs. Are they over crowded? Are they in delapidated conditions? Both workers and patients in these facilities need to be treated well so as to improve, stabilize or secure their mental wellness.

⦁ Build good support networks for individuals who are mentally ill. Remind and/or persuade them to take their medication. Some persons are all good until they miss out on their meds. Having a good support system, even for reminders... is imperative.

⦁ All in all, do not ridicule. We are fragile beings whose mental well being can be disturbed at any point in our lives. While some individuals are predisposed to these conditions more than others, we ought to remember that illness (mental) is no respector of class, gender nor age.
The next time you endorse mental health..don't do so lightly.

The next time you campaign for the de-stigmatization of mental illness, do so beyond the trends and hashtags.
The next time you look in the mirror, take note that even you can become mentally ill. How would you want to be treated then?

"A Glance at Beauty from the Inside"
[Part Two]

Having hinted of  part two to my second coverage of "A Glance at Beauty from the Inside" I got the gist that many persons thought part two would be a 'lash-out'. By this I mean, an account of dirty laundry and petty squabbles about the recent beauty pageant; Miss Universe Jamaica 2019.

I beg to differ however, as I merely seek to portray a rounded "...Glance of Beauty from the Inside", avoiding at all costs, the dangers of a single story.

In essence, you may be strangely disapointed to not encounter any 'dirty laundry' but rather, the bitter-sweetness of 'Chinese Laundry'!

If, on the other hand, you are here for the journey, then by all means-stay for the ride!

Bueaty pageants, like other aspects of life, are not perfect beds of roses. The industry and those who parttake in it, be it directly or indirectly, are not without their flaws.

Let us take a glance of the flawless beauties who are numbered as finalists. To begin, it is no myth that competing ladies in a pageant can be genuinely  loving and empowering to their fellow pageant sisters. Notwithstanding this, there are always spurs of events and circumstances that tip the scale.
 At some point in time, warranted or not, some finalists become suspicious of foul play. They feel as though, the covered eyes of Lady Justice are in support of the seemingly bias comments, affiliations or industrial expectations.
When the mind has given birth to these thoughts, there are only two pacifiers on the table. One either settles with the belief that it is indeed so, or like a donkey on a 'hill and gully' plot of land, see the thoughts as pesky flies and shake them off. Baby, you get to choose your pacifier!

Flawlessly too, some finalists in their pursuit of  the crown, smartly fit the mole and take on the shape of the quintessential bueaty queen. This, like a drug, can be used as directed or may lead to an overdose. There is a sweeping generalization that may well be true of majoriy of beauty queens. Kings and queens of critiques, share the gist that many beauty queens are rehearsed, cookie cutting, 'world peace', superficial gems.

A disservice to self then, as an aspiring queen is to settle, be easily silenced, submissive to the opinions of crown makers and rehersing pure attributes such as empathy, charity and good will.

In essence, Chineese Laundry are good for balance and make for a comfy stance but to walk on eggshells to the crown will sore many feet and numb many toes. It is thus, good advice when one hears "just be yourself". Keep a firm grip on your opinions and sense of self. That way, if the cown wasn't made to fit your head, you wouldnt have lost yourself to eggshells, there is no yolk in that!

Beauty is  realative and comments on who is beautiful differ with varying people. To some, the most beautiful  lady is the one who have been their friend or is family. To others, their pick for the beauty will be based on socialization or commercialized descriptions. The univeres hepls too, as different energies resonate with different people and a certain energy may be labelled as beautiful. It is all a gamble with the 'mirror mirror on the wall'.


In a different vein, there are many persons who tilt their heads from the happenings of beauty pageants on the grounds of religion, moreso Christianity.

 As a country that is often classified as a Christian nation, young women and girls who partake in pageants usually rule out the support of sanctimonius citizens. Their conversations with the pageant world usually sparks around, "how is the church handling it?" With reference to the teasing walks in bikinis, the false lashes and colourful faces, the activites on sabbath etc, the provocative jewelry and outfits too. Suddenly, it is clearer that the world is coming to an end. While those women 'fret' for the crown, the church 'fret' for the souls of the women.

Likewise, theorists beam at the constant manifestations of their theories. Capitalists with the Marxists views, point fingers at which finalists, sponsors, organizers and other support systems  make up the bourgeoise or prolatariat. Feminists, sigh at the seemimgly exploitation of women and their bodies as they fulfil the prophecies of being delicate submissive beings fattening an industry that keeps them subservient.

These provoking, brow knitting sentences are the metaphoric paint and brushes of an artist. Whether one likes the painting on the canvas is up to him/her.

Beauty is as vast as the universe. Beauty is as wide as the world. Beauty is as different as the continents. Beauty is as global as technology. Beauty is as grand as a coronation.

We never see it all at once nor do we ever have a consensus on what it is. Beauty on the inside is as mysterious as it is on the outside. Some will love one, some will love both and others, none at all.


Lady Justice standing tall, who's the fairest of them all?

"A Glance at Beauty from the Inside"

[Part One]

We have heard a thousand times over, that beauty pageants are for 'pretty' girls. We have seen too the reactions and commentaries of people who clench onto the industry for dear life or for mere entertainment. The variables of each new saga attracts new perspectives while the constants, etch in the minds of many, the age old perception of beauty.

One can contend however, that the term beauty has more depth than a skin deep analysis. It can also be deduced that, beauty pageants are more than what meet the eyes and are far more beneficial than they are given credit for.

Sadly, applicants for beauty pageants are usually seen as vain; shallow; superficial and not scoring much on the intellectual continuum. That however, must be debunked as pageants afford girls and young women many life skills, opportunities for personal growth and more awareness of self.

Let us take a look at beauty from the inside of the Miss Universe Jamaica 2019 pageant.

In a universe like ours, where multi-tasking, good time management and value for people's time are important aspects of life; it is good to know that the aforementioned pageant emphasized on these values.

For the 18 finalists of the Miss Universe Jamaica 2019 beauty, fashion and wellness pageant, a schedule of activities which was frequently updated, became perhaps the most checked document for the pageant period. It outlined tasks and times which were to be adhered to. Of a fact, most of the ladies had jobs and other businesses throughout the days and had to manage their time wisely so as to honour those on the schedule. Thus, the skill of time management was no longer just a fancy term but a serious part of their daily routine.

The beauty of that was a new sense of respect and value for other people's time. Be it the driver of a bus; presenters at a session; photographers; hair stylists and even the time of make up artists.

Additionally, for individuals who view the ladies in pageants to be vain and shallow, you have obviously not heard about the Altruism Project which has become part and parcel of the Miss Universe Jamaica pageant. The Altruism Project charges the finalists to go into their community and identify a social ill that they can remedy so as to improve and impact lives positively. Here, we see charity, community development and nation building coming into play. We see too, young women who are not just identifying problems but actively seeking and implementing solutions. What selfless beauty!

Many of these altruistic deeds will live on even after the duration of the pageant. That simply means, that because of the pageant, lives and communities will continue to be enhanced.

It is often said among persons who have traveled our island nation Jamaica extensively, that many nationals are clueless when it comes on to the myriad of attractions and local scenery that we posses. We hear too that tourists to our island know it better than we do. Indeed, there is some truth to that.

Nonetheless, the pageant mentioned before has ensured that at least 18 of Jamaica's young ladies can head back to their daily routines having experienced what may have otherwise been seen as exclusive to tourists. Not many persons have been privy to board and tour a cruise ship or check in to a breathtaking five star hotel. These opportunities are not to be seen as trivial as they add to the experience and knowledge of the individuals involved.

In my estimation, many persons see the show...the final output, but not many see or even know of the journey. Training sessions take up the lion's share of the duration of the pageant under assessment. To be clear, training sessions encompass a variety of things, the least among them is 'walk and poise'.

These sessions include: etiquette; public speaking; proper social media usage; personal branding; presentation skills etc. The journey therefore is so impactful and relevant that each finalist has undoubtedly been molded, refined and make for better citizens and role models. How can we really not see the beauty in this?

Contrary to beliefs that in the beauty pageant arena, physical beauty is the be all and end all, overall wellness is paramount. Wellness of mind, body and soul. Literally. In regards to the mind, sessions were held whereby finalists unpacked their worries and insecurities in a safe space and encouraged to see themselves as more, as powerful, as confidently beautiful. The body was in for a treat too, with lessons on self defense; gym exercises; healthy food; and trusted brands for skin and hair products.

The soul too was engaged with a visit to church and constant acknowledgement of God's mercies.

On that note, I implore you Lady Justice, to give to Caesar what is due to Caesar. Although, the title of Miss Universe Jamaica 2019 can only be held by one lady, it is a fact that 17 other lives have been enhanced. As a matter of fact, a nation has been enhanced through beauty, as more development and improvement of communities is underway.

"Outer beauty is a gift. Inner beauty is an accomplishment."

                                    -Randi G. Fine

Wanted: A Drastic Plan like the Plastic Ban

Are we doing enough to protect our children?

Undoubtedly, there are provisions in place to protect our children. For example: The Child Care and Protection Act which was passed in 2004 with the objective of promoting the best interests, safety and well-being of children across Jamaica. 

However, one can contend that much more needs to be done. Especially seeing the spike in violence being perpetrated against the nation's children.

 Take a look at the recently imposed plastic ban of January 1, 2019. This ban came with a new sense of awareness across Jamaica. The state and citizens alike actively sought to adopt to the waves that came with it. On ventures to the supermarket, tote bags were being bought and sold. Businesses boomed in their production and customization of the new sensation. Talks about the change picked up momentum in public transportations, on the streets, in the news etc. That little move, was a big call and a huge save for the environment.

Now, what about the nation's children? There seems to be more talks of pity, disgust and fear whenever misfortunes of our children occur. While those are natural reactions and should not be shunned, they are simply, not enough. Such talks are not sustainable. Too often, a child is murdered, raped, missing or otherwise violated and we lament on different platforms about the gross indecency then recovering to do so again and again, and again...sometimes, no recovery for some.

Evidentially, there needs to be a drastic plan like the plastic ban. A plan that will have citizens and visitors actively engaged in the protection of our children. Our laws and provisions to protect need to have a "tote effect". This "tote effect" will be a sense of safety and sustainability. One that the nation's leaders will be passionate about. One that companies and entrepreneurs will want to brand themselves with. A "tote effect" that will erase the scandal of perpetrators against our children; rendering safety to the island's people, environment and future.

The big question is: What can be done and or improved to sustainably protect our children and ensure the earlier mentioned "tote effect"?

Jokingly, distribute bulks of tote bags with these prints in bold: Protect our Children. They will be carried around by many, replacing the 'scandals' while advertising a worthwhile message.

On a more serious note however, here are my tips to Lady Justice:

• Take the Ananda Alert of the snooze button...The child recovery strategy for missing children has been slowly evading the minds and mouths of many. Not many persons view it as an effective emergency button that you push when a child has gone missing. Rightly so if you ask me. This system of alerting the nation of a missing child should be more prominently discussed in the homes, schools and by our leaders. It also needs to be reassessed to include more hands on approaches for example: speedy trail searches, publication of photographs on social media, billboards, public spaces. Thorough questioning of guardians, friends, community members. The long and short of it is that the Ananda Alert's objectives and plans need to be reassessed for its strengths and weaknesses and actively discussed and made more efficient.

• Deploy police officers in school zones, bus parks, taxi stands...specifically during the hours when children are heading to and from school. This helps with warding off unlicensed transportation operators; it aids with more vigilance in such areas.

• Exercise strict sanctions for parents and guardians who neglect their children...Too often children are left to roam the streets or left unsupervised at home. As a result, a true account cannot be given regarding the whereabout, actions or company of the child. When this happens, in most cases, children are susceptible to predators who thrive when the child is neglected. 

• Minimize delays in serving justice...This is easier said than done and requires all hands on deck. Guilt on the part of the alleged perpetrator must be proved for same to be prosecuted. Many times we blame police officers and the court system for the delays. However, investigations are often slowed down by persons who are unwilling to give information. Bear in mind that urgency and every ounce of detail helps with justice and may save lives.

The duty of protecting our children lies with us all. Dismiss the urge to turn a blind eye when an unfamiliar child is hurt, because a plague like this may turn up at your door steps. The nation should be on the look out for the safety of children. All of us, actively.