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WHO WE ARE

The Bermuda Mental Health Foundation (BMHF or the Foundation) was formed in 1994 as a company limited by guarantee. The Foundation is a registered charity (Registration No. 394)

OUR MISSION

It is the mission of The Bermuda Mental Health Foundation to promote the preservation of mental health services in Bermuda and to provide resources that will assist in relieving and rehabilitating persons suffering from mental disorders.

OUR GOALS

• Raise awareness and combat stigma about mental illness, educating and campaigning to improve mental health services.

• To provide resources that will enhance the care and emotional support for people suffering with mental illness including support for families.

OUR OBJECTIVES

• To acquire, organize and physically maintain a stock of communal residential facilities for people with identified mental health disabilities, to enable them to live and work in the community and enjoy a better quality of life.

• To encourage educational activities that develop public awareness and foster acceptance and integration of the mentally ill into the community.

• To assist and encourage the development of active community based support groups for the mentally ill and their immediate families.

• To act as a private advocate group for the rights and needs of the mentally ill in Bermuda.

• To eventually assist in the development of day center and sheltered occupational workshop facilities for the mentally ill who live among us within the community.

About us

OVERVIEW

The Bermuda Mental Health Foundation (BMHF or the Foundation) was formed in 1994 as a company limited by guarantee.

The Foundation is a registered charity (Registration No. 394) which has the following objects:

To promote the preservation of mental health in Bermuda and to assist in relieving and rehabilitating persons suffering from mental disorders or conditions of emotional or mental distress requiring advice or treatment in Bermuda; and
To acquire such premises as may be necessary or convenient to give effect to the principal object of the Foundation.
In addition to these formal objects, the Foundation seeks to educate the public about mental illness.

Mental illness can be as mild as an anxiety attack or as severe and chronic as schizophrenia. When one suffers with mental illness, it affects the individual, their family, employment opportunities and the community at large.

In carrying out its mandate, the Foundation believes that it is important to change the conversation about mental illness to a discussion based on fact, understanding and empathy.

This quality of mental health awareness will also assist in combatting the stigma that continues to surround mental illness.

In furtherance of its objects, the Foundation works very closely with the MWI and assists MWI in achieving its stated goal of resettling low risk clients out of institutional accommodation and back into the general community. MWI’s treatment approach is based upon a Recovery Model of Care, which includes a set of values about a person’s right to build a meaningful life for themselves with or without the continuing presence of mental health symptoms. Recovery is based on ideas of self-determination and self-management. It emphasizes the importance of “hope” in sustaining motivation and supporting expectations of an individually fulfilled life.

The Foundation currently owns and operates three properties that provide supervised sheltered housing for twenty MWI clients. A fourth property was purchased in November 2021 and is currently being made ready to accommodate up to eight additional MWI clients.

In its public awareness activities, the Foundation joined with the Human Rights Commission to lobby successfully for amendments to the Human Rights Act 1981 that extended protections under the Act to persons suffering from mental illness. It has also presented informational sessions on mental health topics to students in Bermuda’s public and private schools.

Most recently, the Foundation launched the Mindful Employer Certificate (MEC) programme. The programme seeks to challenge, highlight and cultivate company cultures that put mental health as a workplace priority.

The voluntary certification programme seeks to assure that employers are in compliance with existing legislation while challenging them to develop, implement or enhance sound policies and practices around mental health in the workplace.

In October 2021, the Foundation hosted a virtual conference with the theme “Mental Health – It’s About All of Us”. The conference featured 29 speakers on various topics of mental health in 12 sessions.

Community Partners

We are very thankful to all of our current community partners and we are currently seeking more on island partners. We firmly believe that in order to achieve our set goals and objectives and to change that state of our mental health industry, it will take all of Bermuda’s help. If you are interested in becoming a community partner please contact us.

Our Programs and Initiatives

The Foundation has provided residential care facilities that cater to those suffering from mental illness. Currently, initiatives such as Mental Health Court, Mental Health First Aid Course, Family Mental Health Support Group Public Awareness Campaign, Island-wide Mental Health resource online center and others have taken the forefront.

Our Brochure

BMHF

HISTORY

1997

HRH Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy visited “Arcadia” on March 18th; Purchased second house “Our Blessing” in Hamilton Parish – 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments; received $14,873 from the Wilkie Trust for the express purpose of funding expenses related to conventions.

1997

2002

1: Sold “Arcadia”.

2: Received $100,000 from Bank of Bermuda for the express purpose of assisting with constructing the upper studio apartment at “Our Way”.

2002

2014

Awarded “2014 Decade of Partnership Award” from the Centre of Philanthropy.

James McDonald assumed Chair Position.

Marked the 20th Anniversary of BMHF (Rebranding campaign to include a new website, logo, letterhead, support for Mental Health Treatment).

Think Media Faces of Mental Illness Initiative began.

2014

2015

April – June: BMHF Nationwide School Tour resulting in 13 schools visited and over 3000 students presented to on the topics: Mental Health Explained, Mental Health Vs. Mental Illness, Healthy Coping Skills, Resources in the Community, Careers in Mental Health
Think Media- Faces of Mental Illness Initiative Continued.

September: Community Event: Mike Veny conducted public lecturer entitled “Transforming Stigma into Strength”.

2015

2018

Teen Summit event entitled “It’s Ok Not To Be OK”. This event focused on talking about mental health and seeking help. The theme was “Young people and mental health in a changing world”

2018

2019

The Mindful Employer Certification (MEC) Program was launched. MEC is an initiative that seeks to challenge, highlight, and cultivate company cultures that put mental health as a workplace priority.