This past Thursday, at the Regency Theatre, the You Matter Foundation welcomed 104 senior high school students across Grand Bahama for its annual mental health seminar titled, “The Card Game Of Life; What’s You’re Next Move?”
The three hour seminar, themed ‘Stronger Than You Think?’ was hosted by You Matter Foundation team member Sasha Pinder who lead an open panel featuring educator and the first Mrs Bahamas World Keldra Pinder, Miss Universe Bahamas 2025 Maliqué Bowe, Miss Comso 2025 Beyonce Forbes, World’s Perfect Young Man 2025 Stanford McIntosh, and Mister St. Georges High 2024 Andrew Saunders Jr.
Founded on Grand Bahama in 2021, the You Matter Foundation was created by President Niesha Jennings and Vice Presidents Darrol Stubbs and Davino Dickerson who through their own journeys understood the need to destigmatize and educate on mental health, particularly for Bahamian youth, while spreading the foundation’s motto, ‘You are loved, you are important, and you matter.”
“[With mental health], we know it shapes every aspect of a person’s life from relationships … to overall well-being.” Darrol explained.
The panel discussed societal expectations, insecurities, resiliency, faith, and finding strength in expressing emotion while giving advice on each topic and allowing the students to affirm each other as they laid bare their troubles and personal stories.
The seminar, the latest in a series of four, is only one of You Matter Foundation’s endeavors as it also provides mental health workshops and organizes outreach programs.
In recent years, The Bahamas has made its own strides through the 2022 Mental Health Act and the 2025 Mental Health Act in Action symposium. However, the foundation acknowledges that more work is to be done.
Darrol stated, “Stigma still remains to be a major barrier … as many individuals still hesitate to seek help due to fear of judgment or misunderstanding.”
The Bahamas Global School Health Report in 2025 revealed that out of a sample of 2,211 students from ages 13 to 18 only 58.4% of them had someone to confide in.
As the foundation seeks to expand its educational efforts to families, educators, and community leaders, Darrol stated that there are other organizations such as the Grand Bahama Resilience Center, Bahamas Mental Health Association, Brightside Bahamas, and the Bahamas Psychological Association that are also ‘working tirelessly’ that Bahamians should be made aware of.
He added, “To any Bahamian who is struggling with mental health, I want to remind you that you are not alone. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness it is an act of courage.”
To connect with the You Matter Foundation, follow their Facebook and Instagram, or email youmater242@gmail.com.
Photo Credit: NN Productions
