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If you've attended a health or wellness fair in recent years you've probably picked up a pamphlet or had a foot massage at one of "Mind, Health, Connect's booths, but after a few years of providing information and resources the founders of this NGO are looking to be more visible in their quest to spread Mental Health awareness and bring a much needed conversation to the national forefront. 

Mind, Health, Connect was officially launched this morning at the Image Factory Art Gallery. We stopped by to talk to the founders about what they've achieved in the seven years that they've been carrying out activities and what they hope to achieve moving forward. 

Martinie King - Co-Founder of Mind, Health, Connect Belize. 
"We're officially launching today because again we're trying to build awareness. We want people to know about us. We want people to know about our website and we want people to start talking about mental Health and having all the difficult conversations. The first phase has been the website so you go to the website and that will list as many resources as we have been able to find in Belize. We do need the public's help. Let us know of more resources so we can continue to build it so that's our first phase, that's ongoing. Our second phase is again to do more education and to have the difficult conversations. The second leading cause of death for teenagers is suicide. We need to have these conversations."

The presence of key political figures at the NGO's launch including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Patrick Faber, and the former Minister of Education, Francis Fonseca and other political figures clearly suggests that the conversation about Mental Health is no longer a marginalized one. City Councillor Alan Pollard sat on Mind, Health, Connects panel today and shared some of the struggles that he's faced with anxiety. 

Alan Pollard - City Councillor
"My struggle is anxiety, severe anxiety and it's something I never addressed for quite some time. It's something that I just had to deal with simply by myself, at least that's what I thought. Every speech it doesn't get easier, every presentation it doesn't get easier, every campaign it doesn't get easier and a lot of people would say Alan look like one of the most confident people, he full of himself, always on point but that comes at an extremely difficult effort. Having to supress what's going on inside and having to display outside. It's something that constantly a war for me. When I first learnt the seriousness of it was the first time taking my first pill, being medicated, have a prescription and say listen, you have to take this and to me that was so crazy, that's the craziest thing ever. I'm not sick, I feel good, I don't have a headache but I have to take a pill because I'm nervous. That's crazy to me that is something completely out of my world you know and one of the main things for me so far is, especially within politics and my career, is differentiating between living with this condition, and living through this condition." 

And the launch focused on the free expression of experiences both verbal and material along the full spectrum of Mental Health. Co-Founder Sahar Vasquez told us more.

Sahar Vasquez  - Co-Founder Mind Health, Connect Belize
"We're launching Mind, Health, Connect but it's also an art exhibit. We got young adolescents to draw what they think mental illness is or looks like and we also got them to write their thoughts anonymously. We want our young people to feel comfortable to express themselves even if they're not writing their name even if its anonymous. We also have some speakers here who are going to share their personal battles with mental illness as well. These individuals have openly shared their stories publicly and I know that's not easy because it's something that I do and it's very draining and I think when you see someone that is maybe high in, is a politician or an artist. It inspires someone else to say you know what if they can share their story I can share my story and there's nothing to be ashamed of."

"Mental Health is as serious as physical health yes you can't see it on an X-ray or a blood test but it is there, it is felt and we need to treat each other with compassion and empathy instead of throwing each other under the bus and calling each other crazy. You can go to our website Mind, Health, Connect.com where you can find counsellors and you and talk. Talk to someone. That is the most important thing."

And if you missed the launch. The Painting's, installation, and sculpture that students contributed to create the ambience for the vital conversation will be on display at the image Factory Art Gallery until the end of next week.

You can find resources to support mental health at Mind, Health, Connect's website www.mindhealthconnect.com or by contacting the founders at 501 615 5957.