The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Writer

acadet@tribunemedia.net

From time immemorial, people who suffered with mental health conditions such anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts have been labelled as “crazy” or “sick”.

And while strides have been taken in recent decades to better understand and treat mental health disorders, in many cultures it’s still a misunderstood and sometimes even taboo subject.

But Bahamian Lorenzo Rolle wants to do his part to change all that. Currently based in Canada, the mental health professional cannot wait to return home to help his people, who he believes have not yet been fully educated on the importance of mental health to be able to see it in a different light.

“I grew up in Pinewood Gardens, Sugar Apple Street to be exact, during a time when mental health was seldom talked about in our country,” he told Tribune Health.

“I’ve acted as the stimulus for most, if not all, those that I have come into contact with here (in Canada) to begin making a change in their lives, but my own people are still suffering. Men in the Bahamas and Caribbean at large are still not talking about their concerns but instead turning to other means, and that’s where I need to do better. In all honesty, I would like the Bahamian community to really take the time to educate themselves on the topic of mental health with an open mind. Let’s restructure our thoughts and our mind so that when we hear the words mental health, we don’t automatically think that an individual or we ourselves are crazy. Let’s accept that we all experience some level of anxiety, whether it be positive or negative….yes, anxiety can be a good thing. For example, think of fight or flight.

“When it comes to my knowledge of mental health, I believe that most Bahamians need to know that it not all about the negative, and speaking to someone about your worries, feelings and concerns doesn’t make you mentally unstable.”

After graduating from Bahamas Academy, Lorenzo spent a couple of years at the College of the Bahamas studying sustainable Marine Science. Then later in 2012, he left home to work in Canada, after which he changed my course of study to Religious Studies.

“Following my graduation in May of 2016, I then began to pursue my Master’s in Counselling Psychology, and I’ve been connected to the area of mental health since then,” he said.

Lorenzo said it was in 2017 while completing his Master’s degree and looking after his wife and two kids, that he began working with youth in Canada who were struggling with suicide ideation, anxiety and depression, eating disorders, schizophrenia and addictive behaviours. After working as a supervisor in young adult programmes for two years, he then transitioned to managing programmes for the following two years, and later became a therapist with Vantage Community Services.

He is currently employed with the government of Canada at Alberta Health Services as part of their mental health team working with kids and young adults who are diagnosed with a variety of mental health disorders.

“Normally, my work entails conducting assessments, carrying out 45-minute to 60-minute counselling sessions, supporting youth and families in reunification, making mental health observations and discussing it within the interdisciplinary team, and conducting psycho-educational groups and meditation exercises,” said Lorenzo.Moving forward, however, Lorenzo said the plan is to return home and do his part in destigmatising mental health in the Bahamas. With this plan already in motion, Lorenzo is also currently a member of the Bahamas Psychological Association, and his goal is to begin his own counselling and therapy practice in Nassau.

“In doing this, I will have a strong position in the community, and I will be able to provide services to youth and adults that are hoping to have a better experience with their mental health. Believe it or not, destigmatising mental health has a lot to do with educating the people as well as normalising their experiences rather than speaking negatively about what they may be going through. Ensuring that you have a positive outcome on your mental health can simply mean that you’re going for a walk regularly or playing sports, hanging out with friends, travelling, etcetera. It’s simple, and most of us already do it. Last but not least, publishing short articles in the various news outlets is also a starting point which I hope to continue regularly,” said Lorenzo.

What he enjoys most about the field of health and wellness is how much it is connected to life itself. Lorenzo said he enjoys that it allows him to connect with individuals from all walks of life. As each case is different and complex in its own way, he said a professional must always use tact and skill in order to help individuals find success.

“When I’m able to have a client determine a level of success that they deem successful and not society, then the hard part is over. They then have a set of goals that are more about them and less about those around them. Also, I truly enjoy helping others get through tough times in their lives. At such a time like this, jobs are being lost, families are being broken up and the rates of suicide in most areas are increasing, so to be present for individuals when they have no one else to turn to falls in line with my purpose in life,” said Lorenzo.

Knowing he has played a part in bringing about mental health awareness in the Canadian community over the past few years is something he is very proud of.

During the global pandemic, Lorenzo said he is engaging in a number of activities that he likes to call ‘Take 5’s’ - playing basketball, listening to music, spending time with his wife and three kids, going for drives, and gaming when he has the time.

These activities,he said, are what keep him going, especially on days when he may feel too tired to push on or just wishes he could be on a beach in the Bahamas watching the sunset.