The Voice of the Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands celebrated a significant milestone last month with the successful completion of its Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Mentoring Week, marking the first major step toward the full launch of a locally adapted MHFA programme.

Organised by the Addison Kelly Mental Health Education Fund (AKMHEF), a proud initiative of the Alex Panton Foundation, the weeklong event brought together 14 local participants for intensive training, discussion, and workshops focused on implementing MHFA within the unique cultural context of the Cayman Islands.

Two representatives from MHFA International travelled to Grand Cayman to guide the sessions, providing expert insight and support as participants reviewed the MHFA training curriculum and explored effective ways to roll out the programme locally.

Mental Health First Aid is an internationally recognised training that teaches people how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health issues, similar to how CPR helps people assist those experiencing physical health emergencies.

“This programme has the potential to significantly shift the way our community understands and responds to mental health challenges,” said Rhonda Kelly, Founder of the Addison Kelly Mental Health Education Fund. “By empowering more people with the knowledge and skills to support mental wellness, we are laying the foundation for a more compassionate, informed, and resilient Cayman Islands.”

The goal of the MHFA programme is to increase mental health literacy and equip individuals with the tools to offer initial support to someone in a mental health crisis or developing a mental health problem, whether it be a friend, family member, coworker, or community member.

With the successful completion of the mentoring week, the AKMHEF and the Alex Panton Foundation are now preparing for the full roll-out of the MHFA training across the Cayman Islands. This next phase includes developing a localised curriculum that is culturally relevant, grounded in local data, and enriched by the voices, faces, and lived experiences of our community. The ultimate goal is to foster a stronger, more compassionate Cayman Islands where mental health is destigmatised, understood, and prioritised.

The people that took part in the weeklong mentoring in addition to Rhonda included: Dr. Shannon Seymour, Director / Clinical Psychologist The Wellness Centre; Dympna Carten, Psychiatric Nurse, HSA; Chantal Basson, Clinical Psychologist, Alex's Place; Hylton Grace, local MHFA Trainer (Wales); Emily Kelly, Executive Director, APF; Jackie Neil, Founder, Loud Silent Voices; Jason Dunkley, Clinical Supervisor, Department of Counselling Services; Renee Ebanks, Programme Manager, APF; Richelle Ebanks, Policy Advisor (Wellness and Environmental Health), Carolina Ferreira, Communications Manager, Ministry of Health; Felicia McLean, Chief Nursing Officer, Ministry of Health; Judith Seymour, Director, Department of Counselling Services

“It was truly remarkable to be surrounded by such a passionate and dedicated group of mental health advocates as we shaped the path forward for this programme,” said Rhonda. “Their unwavering commitment, to both this mission and their communities, is nothing short of inspiring. There's important work ahead, but with people of this caliber leading the way, I have every confidence we’ll make a real and lasting impact.”

The funds to ensure a successful start and sustainable programme are thanks to Ryde Cayman, choosing the AKMHEF as the charity for their annual event in February has provided the essential financial support needed for the programme to get off the ground!