Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas
"The Family" behavioural health group formed in Grand Bahama
By Yasmin Popescu
Sep 5, 2013 - 2:53:10 PM


Freeport, Bahamas -  A new health group is being formed in Grand Bahama, but this one deals with the head and mentality. Speaking with the Rotary Club of Grand Bahama Sunrise, member Billie Bowe, Behavioural Health Activist, said that a small core group for The Family: People Helping People Programme, met this past Friday at the YMCA and they have already gained some corporate support and they are looking at an official launch soon.

Mrs. Bowe told the Rotary Club last Wednesday during their regular weekly meeting at Geneva’s that there is a growing concern among the citizens of The Bahamas regarding the steady increase in violent crimes facing our communities.

“We are all talking about it in the lunchrooms, or at the office” she continued. “Or maybe even around the domino tables, where we are all asking, ‘what is going on in Nassau with all these crimes?’

“And while it is tempting to get caught up in the many seductive explanations being put forward as to the ‘numbers’ of murders vs homicides, etc very little attention is being focused toward answering the questions as to why. Why are these things happening in such a small country? What help, if any, are persons who are victims of crimes getting? I won’t rattle on about crime statistics here. It’s unnecessary. The bottom line is crime, most especially violent crime, is on the rise – plain and simple!”

Mrs. Bowe said that according to a poll The Bahamas as rated #5 most happy country in the world but she asked if we are so happy then what is causing so many symptoms like depression, suicide, erosion of the traditional family structure, drug addiction and violent crime that are so prevalent in our country?

“While it is important to get to the root cause of why these issues are plaguing our country” Mrs. Bowe said, “we must come together as a community to help each other cope. Poor coping skills and conflict resolution techniques can have devastating and in many cases, fatal consequences. It can lead to suicide or homicide which are both obviously the extreme.”

Looking at public view on mental health Mrs. Bowe said that our society has developed insensitivity around mental illnesses and the clinic methods used to manage these illnesses.

“I don’t know when it happened or whether it has always been part of our cultural identity, however at some point in our upbringing we were taught that issues around mental health, or behavioural health, as it is commonly called today, should not be discussed.

“The family member addicted to drugs is not to be talked about; the family member who has been in and out of prison is not to be talked about; the family member who is an alcoholic is not to be talked about; the family member who acts out in school, terrorizing other students and teachers is not to be talked about.

“We whisper about these major issues among ourselves but are tight lipped about it outside of the family unit. And sadly, the family unit is fragmented and in and of itself malfunctioning.”

The activist said that the reality is that as long as we do not talk, nor face the social and psychological challenges facing The Bahamas we will continue to live in fear.

 

She said that she is a part of a group started by Dr. David Allen, leading Bahamian born psychiatrist called The Family: People Helping People Programme that has been around in Nassau since 2008 and are now bringing to Grand Bahama.

She added, “The Family is a thriving programme that provides anyone, young and old, a safe supportive, therapeutic, confidential group environment to share feelings, and deal with the pain. But this programme is helping so many people struggling with how to cope, how to deal with the loss of a family member to crime, how to deal with drug addiction, how to deal with death.

“The Family Programme actually provides a therapeutic replica of our family, but with the added benefit of the structural support and guidance of a medical professional. You see, while we may all be able to come together in a room and talk about issues, sometimes it is necessary to have a trained professional to help us sort out all the details, provide us with tools and resources we can use to safely cope and manager our feelings, and should our troubles lead us to the point where intervention is necessary, there is always a professional there to ensure that the right steps are taken.”

A number of health professionals in Grand Bahama have already given their support to this programme with more information to be circulated soon, stated Mrs. Bowe.

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