In Trinidad and Tobago the rate of suicide is 2 persons every week. Globally, the rate of suicide is one person every 40 seconds. For many struggling with depression, anxiety and trauma, the world can be a very dark place that they have to navigate not only with the pressures of every day life, but the realities of managing their mental health effectively.
Studies have shown that participating in music and art can alleviate pain, help people manage stress, promote wellness, enhance memory, improve communications, aide physical rehabilitation, and give people a way to express their feelings. Music and Film are also great storytelling devices that
We live n a time when our planet faces never before seen natural disasters, mass extinction, climate change and most recently the COVID-19 Pandemic, and here in Trinidad and Tobago, we have rising waves of violence and economic hardship.
A shadow is hovering over the world, and the way through this storm cloud, is also long and full of difficulties and challenges, creating a sense of doubt in a future we can no longer see clearly, that we don’t know if we have the strength to protect.
An Act of Resistance
Mindwise project is a community based initiative which focuses on mental health wellness and awareness in Trinidad and tobago. We serve our community through providing and developing
Currently we are embarking on a mental health campaign “Defeat the Dark” which curates art with the intention to help heal. This campaign intends to incorporate yourself and other influencers with a message in their artform.
Our plan is to create a beautiful playlist which incorporates all genres of art and music which can be a safe space for persons in a moment of darkness.
What role will you play?
We are engaging influencers and community leaders to you allow yourself to be open and vulnerable with us with the aim being to help another. We ask you to share with us a piece of art, music or performance that lifted you out of the dark, in a moment of crisis. Where do you turn when in a moment of sadness or defeat to conquer your inner voice.
Partners
How can you participate?
- Data Analytics and Visualization – youth substance abuse trends, domestic violence, suicide
- Validation and Verification Support with FindCareTT.com and other digital solutions
- Solutions and content research (resources: apps, websites, forums and videos)
- Feedback and Innovation Discussion – How can we make it better?
- Data Analytics
- Research and Development – student led R&D interests
- Virtual Event Production and Storytelling
Projects
FindCareTT.com
FindCareTT.com is the National Mental Health and Psycho Social Support (MHPSS) Directory of Trinidad and Tobago, launched in January 2021 by the MHPSS Technical Working Group, it is coordinated by the Ministry of Health and PAHO-WHO Trinidad and Tobago. Mindwise Project is the operator and manager of the platform in support of its National Distribution through the MHPSS network.
The activities of FindCareTT.com and the MHPSS Network is a notable milestone in the development of collective action. Within the professional health system, this fosters increased trust, informed referrals and direct connections. It is a digital solution that we hope to expand throughout the region with current and future partners in the region and globally.
Building Sustainable Minds
Mindwise Project launched the video series Building Sustainable Minds with the support of the United Nations in 2017. The series features local leaders in mental health who provide insight on matters of mental health relevant and contextual to local communities. These leaders explore current challenges facing our country such as violence and intergenerational trauma; suicide; and workplace mental health.
We named the series Building Sustainable Minds because it is one of our actions as a Civil Society Partner of the United Nations, in pursuit of the Global Goals 2030, in particular Global Goal 3.
This series reveals insights into the local landscape of mental health through the experiences of local mental health professionals whose fingers touch the pulse of our reality here in Trinidad and Tobago. These insights will highlight observations and trends mostly unmeasured and undocumented currently, and also help illustrate pathways to support that are also currently unmapped.
In 2021 as the National Mental Health System is decentralized, Building Sustainable Minds will continue as a journalism series and platform that expands the knowledgebase of local mental health issues, community interventions, analysing and presenting pathways to care for the public.
Data Visualisation
From inception, Mindwise Project released annual suicide statistics with visualisations that help connect the local community to our local story of suicide. Since this action started, we have built a partnership with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and other data providers, with the aim of expanding publicly available data which can inform the local mental health responses for the benefit of all.
Mindwise Project plans to deliver a Suicide Prevention National Digital Platform.
What will you learn?
- Training in:
- Good Mental Health practices
- Suicide Prevention
- Anger Management
- Stress Reduction
- Coordinating, Strategising and Programming
- Gender-Based Violence elimination training
- Online Safety training for vulnerable populations
- Diversity and Inclusion training
- Mindfulness Strategies/Meditation
- Caretaker Burnout prevention training
- Data Analysis and Visualization
- Information Curation & Design
- Digital Development Application
- Introduction to the National Framework for MHPSS delivery
- Creative Production – Writing articles, photography, videography
- Virtual Event Planning & Design
