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At the Faith & Mental Health Symposium, Dr. Joshua P. Smith shared his Multidimensional Self-Care Plan and walked attend...
05/20/2025

At the Faith & Mental Health Symposium, Dr. Joshua P. Smith shared his Multidimensional Self-Care Plan and walked attendees through completing the plan handout so each person left with a start to their self-care plan.

Although the Symposium was for faith leaders, Dr. Smith made some powerful points that are vital or all of us:

💚 Self-care is a lifestyle that requires intention, commitment and accountability. Self-care isn't just a one off activity we do to feel better momentarily.

💚 Every person needs a multidimensional self-care plan! A multidimensional self-care plan "[ensures] that individuals are maintaining optimal health and emotional wellness in all dimensions of self: body,soul & spirit." Caring for one part of self without caring for the others does not create balance as our dimensions of self interconnected.

💚 Self-care plans should flexible allowing for the ebs & flows of life; as well as, new interests and passions. One's commitment to self-care shouldn't change; however, the ways in which we incorporate daily self-care practices may change.

We are so grateful for our Tier 1 sponsors who contributed to make this year's Faith & Mental Health Symposium a success...
05/07/2025

We are so grateful for our Tier 1 sponsors who contributed to make this year's Faith & Mental Health Symposium a success! This event wouldn't happen without you!

"Every mickle mek ah muckle." (Jamaican Proverb)

The Faith & Mental Health Symposium was a unique learning experience for faith leaders from across Jamaica. The goal was...
05/06/2025

The Faith & Mental Health Symposium was a unique learning experience for faith leaders from across Jamaica. The goal wasn't just to educate on mental health and mental illness, but also to provide practical and culturally relevant solutions to challenges faith leaders may face when supporting parishioners who are struggling mental health wise.

Pastor Javian Hutton, JCF Chaplain led attendees through an fascinating and eye-opening presentation about persons in the Bible who struggled with their mental health and/or who possibly battled with a mental illness. His presentation included the stories of Jeremiah, Job, Jonah, Martha and Jesus.

Pastor Hutton walked us through each story, the person's struggle(s) with mental health and ways that faith leaders can support parishioners who are experiencing similar mental health challenges.

Interesting facts Pastor Hutton presented included:

-Jonah’s depression and suicidal ideation was a result of a spiritual problem. His mental health challenges were a result of his resentment, lack of forgiveness, ill will and jealousy that God would offer other people what he wanted solely for himself and his people.

-Jeremiah is known as the 'weeping prophet'.

-When Jesus was in Gethsamane on the eve of his trial & conviction, he was under so much stress that he experienced hematidrosis- a condition where blood vessels surrounding the sweat glands may become distended and rupture under stress, allowing blood to mix with sweat.

The attendees and presenter had an engaging conversation on possible mental illnesses of some of the characters. Along with the speculations, Dr. Akia Blandon reminded everyone that although we can speculate, diagnosis for a mental illness comes from a licensed mental health professional and includes a thorough intake session that documents symptoms, length of time and intensity of symptoms, family history, medical history and more.

📸: Antonette Brown (Blended Events)

The Faith & Mental Health Symposium kicked off with an engaging panel conversation, Optimizing Mental Health, Managing M...
05/06/2025

The Faith & Mental Health Symposium kicked off with an engaging panel conversation, Optimizing Mental Health, Managing Mental Illness, moderated by Pastor Dr. Gary Buddoo-Fletcher, Force Chaplain, Jamaica Constabulary Force. Panelists included Pastor Javian Hutton, Dr. Akia Blandon & Bishop Dr. Maxo Dejanis.

This panel explored the critical distinctions between mental health and mental illness, shedding light on their impact on individuals and communities while fostering awareness, understanding, and proactive approaches to mental well-being. Experts in psychology and lived experience discussed the importance of mental well-being, early intervention, and destigmatizing mental illness.

Over the course of the panel discussion, several gems were dropped:

💎 Everyone has mental health. Not everyone has a mental illness.

💎 Sometimes people need a pill, not a prayer.

💎 Mental illness is diagnosed by a mental health professional and is based on criteria including length of time of symptoms, intensity of symptoms, trauma, family history, etc.

💎 Mental illness can be managed through individualized care plans. Treatment for mental illness isn't a one size fits all.

💎 Churches must care about mental health as much as they care about spiritual health. Both are interconnected.

💎 Poor mental health impacts mind, body & soul.

Check out the Symposium magazine here: https://publuu.com/flip-book/142156/1877264

Faith & Mental Health Symposium pictures are in...eek! Thanks to Antonette Brown (Blended Events) for bring our event ph...
05/04/2025

Faith & Mental Health Symposium pictures are in...eek! Thanks to Antonette Brown (Blended Events) for bring our event photographer.

Video highlights loading...

In the meantime, here's a sneak peek 👀😃.

The last few days have been a flurry of activities. As I wait for the official Faith & Mental Health Symposium pictures,...
04/28/2025

The last few days have been a flurry of activities. As I wait for the official Faith & Mental Health Symposium pictures, I can't help but reminisce about the impact of the event on myself and so many who attended.

Planning this event was no easy feat. My faith & mental health were stretched to the max. There were days when I questioned whether or not I was really cut out for this work. How could I champion a cause when I am living with mental illnesses? God reminded me that He wasn't looking for a champion, he was looking for a vessel submitted in obedience.

We all do not have a mental illness, but we all must do what we can to ensure we have good mental health. Our spirit, body & soul (mind) are interconnected. We cannot live WHOLE-some lives unless all three are functioning in good health.

Faith spaces are vital for the work that must be done to destigmatize and normalize mental health and provide support for mental illness. Distinguishing when the spirit is affilicted (oppression) and when the soul (mind) is afflicted (i.e. depression, anxiety, etc) is necessary work for faith leaders who want to effectively serve God's people. This symposium brought together faith leaders from a variety of denominations to have that collective conversation.

I am so grateful for the monetary & in kind sponsors, presenters, panelists, moderators, volunteers & MC who made this event a success. I'm especially grateful for Barb Hollace & my prayer pod sisters who gathered around me in prayer and my worldwide best friend Kerry-Ann Burnett-Astree for taking this trip with me and being my right & left hands 😀.

"Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much." (Helen Keller)

With Gratitude,

~Rachel
3 John 1:2

📸: Kerry-Ann Burnett-Astree
*official pictures coming soon*

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