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Celebrating World Mental Health Day: Prioritising mental health in the workplace

Friday 10 October 2025: Bermuda joins citizens around the globe in marking World Mental Health Day today. Minister of Health Kim Wilson encourages island residents to take full advantage of Government and other community resources to safeguard and build mental health resilience. Although she is not on the island today, Minister Wilson has issued this video message:

 

Bermuda Hospitals Board’s Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute is the lead provider of mental health services locally.

BHB Chief of Psychiatry and Chief of Staff Anna Neilson-Williams commented: “Thanks to a Government grant, our services for both children and adults are provided at no cost to the client.”

BHB’s mental health services include:

  • inpatient psychiatric and psychological care
  • outpatient psychiatric and psychological support
  • community-based psychiatric and psychological support
  • community-based support for those with intellectual disabilities
  • drug treatment programmes
  • public education

“The public is invited to learn more about our services at our free Mental Health Expo on Saturday 25 October,” said Dr Neilson-Williams. “It will take place in the Social Centre at MWI from 10am-12pm.

“The theme for World Mental Health Day this year is ‘It’s time to prioritise mental health in the workplace.’ We provide mental health first aid courses regularly at MWI in Devonshire, and we are happy to provide them elsewhere in the community, including where you work.”

BHB’s interactive mental health first aid course allows participants to learn a little about specific mental health conditions and gives them a better understanding of how to recognise and interact with those who may have these conditions.

“The more people who take the course in a workplace, the more likely that work environment will be supportive of employee mental health and wellbeing,” Dr Neilson-Williams added.

Karen Grant-Simmons, clinical director of mental health services, said: “We at BHB join the Health Minister’s call for employers to provide training for their managers and staff in mental wellness and in identifying the early signs of mental distress.

“Email us today at mhfa@bhb.bm about providing mental health first aid education at your job or community group. Courses take place every month, and the next one is 14-15 October from 9:30am-5pm at MWI. To register, visit our website at bermudahospitals.bm/mhfa.”

Director of Allied Health Services Angela Gilbert said: “We’re also encouraging the public to attend the current MindFrame PhotoVoice Exhibition at Bermuda Society of Arts, with submissions from our clients. The exhibit ends on Monday 13 October, so if you haven’t seen it yet, today is a great day to stop in and celebrate mental health.”

Bermuda Society of Arts is located on the top floor of City Hall. Opening hours are 10am-4pm Monday to Friday and 10am-2pm on Saturdays. Entry is free and much of the artwork is available for purchase.

10 October 2025 Home Page, News

BHB to host Mental Health Awareness Fair

Sunday 6 October 2024: Bermuda Hospitals Board will host a mental health awareness fair on Thursday 10 October 2024 to celebrate World Mental Health Day. The free public event will take place on the grounds of City Hall in Hamilton. Health Minister Kim Wilson will lead the opening ceremony at 11:45am.

The theme for mental health awareness this year is ‘Movement: Moving more for our mental health.’

Fair attendees will enjoy fun activities many based on the movement theme. They will also be able to access mental health information from our Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute team members and from community agencies.

“We are pleased to see that the emphasis is growing in our community of the importance in caring for our mental wellness just as we care for our physical bodies,” said BHB Acting Chief of Staff and Chief of Psychiatry Dr Anna Neilson Williams. “Our teams both at the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute and in the community are dedicated to assisting those with mental illness and those with mental health challenges, to live as independently as they can, through various treatment therapies and support.

“Every one of us has mental health and should do all they can to safeguard it,” she said. “We are working hard to rid our community of any stigma about mental illness. This will pave the way for all of us to be comfortable sharing how we feel with friends and family and to have no apprehension when we need to seek professional assistance.

‘We invite the entire community to increase their knowledge about mental health and mental illnesses, and our fair provides an easy way to do this.”

The free BHB Mental Health Awareness Fair will be open from 12pm to 4pm.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 Public Events Schedule

6 October 2024 News

Make Nature A Part Of Your Everyday Life – Mental Health Awareness Week 2021

Monday 4 October 2021: Bermuda Hospitals Board and its Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute invite the public to join them this week in celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week. The theme this year is Nature – It’s Part of Your Everyday Life.

“Mental health is important to each and every one of us, not just those of us who have a mental health ailment,” said Health Minister Kim Wilson.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused us to focus on our mental health a bit more than we would normally. This is good. We are all, I believe, more open to discovering and adopting ways to protect and build resilience for our mental wellbeing.

“This week we, the Government, would like the entire community to connect with nature- perhaps in new ways and to notice how this makes them feel – perhaps you feel calmer, less anxious or just feel that you are in a better mood.

“Connecting with nature is easy to incorporate in your everyday life – you can have your lunch in one of the parks, tend to your house plants, listen to birds, smell flowers, write poetry about nature, hug a tree,  or enjoy walking or running along our beautiful railway trails and pristine beaches. Enjoy the slightly cooler temperatures and have a picnic with your children.

“This week, we ask you to do 3 things: – experience nature, share nature on social media and talk about nature. In other words, for this week: Make Nature a Part of Your Everyday Life.”

BHB Acting Chief of Psychiatry Dr Anna Neilson-Williams said: “There is growing research that shows a correlation between being in nature and improvement in mental wellbeing. Time in nature has been shown to reduce stress hormones, lower blood pressure, reduce nervous system arousal, increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety and improve mood.”

“A UK survey this year coordinated by the UK Mental Health Foundation, found that 59% of the respondents felt going for a walk outside helped them cope with stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic and 50 percent felt that just being able to visit green space helped them,” said BHB Acting Chief Operating Officer and VP of Clinical Operations – MWI, Preston Swan.

“This shows that even small amounts of time in nature can reduce feelings of social isolation and be effective in protecting your mental health,” he added. “BHB invites the public to tune into The Daily Hour on Facebook from 8am-9am on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week to learn about how nature can impact mental health in different age groups.

“We also encourage the public to make a point of being in nature this week and to notice the positive impact this has on their mood and mental wellbeing.”

MWI’s annual MindFrame PhotoVoice exhibition which features artwork from MWI clients, opened on Friday 24 September at the Bermuda Society of Arts in City Hall. The exhibition is free to the public and runs until 13 October.

4 October 2021 News