Jamaican author turns personal battle into mental health resource

In early October last year, Odean Forbes, Mental Health Officer with the Southern Health Regional Authority, delivered frightening statistics. He said there were 100 new cases monthly of patients with that illness in St Elizabeth.Having gone through a period of depression, and helped counsel others in similar situations, Ashlyn Anderson was not surprised. She addresses the sensitive matter of mental health in Reimagine Reframe Rise, her recently released book.“After going through that difficult patch in my life and becoming a stronger, more resilient individual, I decided that such experience should not go to waste. And as I learned from my trials, it is an opportunity to let others know that everything we go through should be a stepping stone for the next level,” Anderson told Observer Online.She said Reimagine Reframe Rise took almost three years to complete. Anderson recalls doing months of research on the causes of and treatment for mental health problems. This included interviewing people who experienced nervous breakdowns, and others still undergoing treatment for neurological disorders.Like Forbes, she is shocked at the thousands of Jamaicans suffering from this illness.“From my online research, I learned that everyone has mental health but its bad mental health that leads to suicidal thoughts. Therefore, we must take our mental health seriously,” she stated.“Simple things like expression of our emotions are essential because not expressing our emotions causes us to explode, resulting in mental breakdown etc, and that is where the problem comes in.”Three weeks after Forbes’ declaration, Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica. The Category 5 system destroyed several hospitals in the country’s south-western region where patients are treated for neurological problems, adding to a dire situation.A devout Christian, Anderson is originally from Clarendon. She insists the Church has a big role to play in helping the psychologically-challenged.“We know that the Church is a haven for healing, deliverance, and blessings. It is where we go to pray and sometimes speak about certain issues we are facing, and I can safely say that when we do so we are truly relieved of stress,” said Anderson. “Christians know the God they serve; they know the power they have in Christ Jesus; they know who they are, they know that if there is anywhere you can go to seek healing, it is in the Church.”