In support of the celebration of the nation’s 50th year of Independence, and to honour the growth and development of the practice of psychology in the nation, The Bahamas Psychological Association (BPA) began executing phase 2 of its series of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) events in November of 2022 and will continue until the end of July 2023. These events are planned to help in diminishing the long-term impact of Hurricane Dorian and the Covid-19 pandemic. The activities target communities within New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco, and Exuma.   

The ongoing events are part of the Association’s disaster response program, a program that has allowed the team for the past two years to engage more than 2,500 persons in mental health and psychosocial disaster response activities. 

The activities have included the operation of 7 hotlines, free training sessions in Psychological First Aid for community organizations and others interested in qualifying themselves to respond to persons impacted by any forms of disaster, free counselling and psychosocial services, free presentations on building resilience to help cope not only with a pandemics or hurricanes but with any everyday disaster that occurs throughout the course of life. Services are offered in English and Creole. 

It is the intention that this series of events will continue to normalize discussions about mental health and wellness so that persons without shame can intentionally give better attention to their mental wellness. 

The intended result is a higher level of mental preparedness in the event of a psychological or physical disaster.