Dympna Carten

Some of the most important lessons in my 40+ years of mental health nursing have come not from textbooks, but from being alongside people when they felt alone or distressed. As a community psychiatric nurse, I have supported individuals and family crisis loss, recovery, and hope. At the onset of the COVID - 19 pandemic, recognizing how often people struggled in silence I found K mind, the Cayman Islands first volunteer lead mental health, helpline, to make support more accessible, immediate and compassionate . Become a mental health, first aid instructor therefore felt like a natural extension of my belief that help should begin in everyday spaces, homes, workplace, churches schools and communities. My aim and MHFA sessions is for participants to leave feeling confident, recognizing emotional, psychological distress starting supportive conversations, helping others feel less alone. Small actions offered early can save lives and strength and community well - being.