Mental Health and Money

In recent years, there seems to have been an increased in reported suicide and attempted
suicide. People are in distress, and they are not being adequately supported. People
experiencing anxiety, depression, and thoughts of suicide do not present in exactly the same
ways. People find a variety of ways to cope, with most methods being temporary and/or
destructive. Self-medicating is common, though not often discussed, and there are many people
who work hard to ignore what is happening in their minds and bodies. People should not reach
the point of crisis before they get the help they need. Everyone needs to be aware that others
are going through unimaginable challenges, whether or not we know about them.

The cost of living is constantly going up, making it difficult for people to make ends meet.
Minimum wage, even with the recent increase, is nowhere near a living wage. It is almost
impossible to secure housing on one’s own while only being paid minimum wage. Add to rent
the cost of utilities—including electricity bills that are unpredictable, nonsensical, and
astronomical, particularly during the summer and whether or not people are at home all
day—and grocery and it is not difficult to see why “side hustles” have been normalized and are
even seen as a sign of success. How could anyone do well in this life with just one job, just one
salary? A side gig, for far too many, is a must.

It is rare to see anyone engaging in hobbies for their own enjoyment. Even the activities we
used to do, and should be able to do, merely for the pleasure of it have been turned into money-
making ventures. If you do it well, while not make money from it? Turn it into a job, and buy into
the myth about loving what you do and it being equal to never working a day in your life. That is
simply not true since we were not made to work, work was not made to be enjoyed, and what
we enjoy was never supposed to be gobbled up by the capitalist system. If the time we used to
spend on hobbies is now spent monetizing them, when and where will we find the time to do
anything other than work?

For some generations, having a social life was a given. People were in social clubs that met
regularly. They hosted and attended weekly card games. Friend groups hosted regular potlucks.
Milestone birthday parties, weddings, and funerals were not the only times that people got
together and spent time with their family members and friends. Today, there is pressure to
spend more time at work and the need to accept any and every extra shift and overtime
opportunity that becomes available. For home ownership to even be a dream, and to get
anywhere near saving enough money for a down payment, people need multiple streams of
income or to receive an inheritance or otherwise have wealth. The goals of baby boomers and
GenXers are far-fetched now.

Financial struggle makes it difficult to meet the most basic human needs, much less enjoy life.
When there is additional stress or crisis, which may include grief, it is often necessary to speak
with a mental health professional. Mental health services are not in the average person’s
budget. The way to access public services is, as in many areas, unclear. There is also still a
tremendous amount of stigma. People still throw around terms like “crazy” in casual
conversations as well as in reference to people who are in need of intervention by mental health
professionals.

Sometimes people need someone to talk to who is neutral and equipped to help them to think
through their situations, identify the options, and make the best possible choice. Sometimes
there is a need for medication to support them on a daily basis. Sometimes specific types of
therapy are needs for short or extended periods of time. Starting the process by speaking with a
mental health professional is critical, and it helpful to build a relationship with a therapist before crisis arises. It is healthy and productive to have talk therapy. Assessments can help us to get a better understanding of ourselves as well as the ways we function or do not function well.

Without support, it is easy for a person in crisis to think they are simply not meant to be here or
incapable of staying here. It is not necessarily that they do not want to live, but that they cannot
see themselves continuing to live under the current circumstances. People need to know that
others are struggling, that there are people who can help, and that it is okay to focus on what
they need to do to make it to the next day and continuing that focus day after day. Planning for
months or years ahead can be overwhelming, especially when today feels like too much. It is
fine to focus on today, and today only.

For many of us, life is busy. There is always more to do than time and energy can
accommodate. Some things just have to be left undone. When the bare minimum is covered, be
sure to take the time to check in with loved ones. Pay attention to the people you engage with
every day, take note of changes in their behavior, and do not hesitate to ask if there is anything
you can do to help when you see signs that anyone is overwhelmed. Even if you do not get to
talk to your friends every day, send a message to let them know you are thinking of them, that
you will make time for them, and that they can reach out if they need anything.

If you know someone is going through a particularly difficult time, think about what you can do to
help, then make a specific offer. This is much better than asking them what you can do to help.
Money is often—not always—at the root of the issue. In these cases, if it is within your means,
give them money. This gives them the independence to do what they consider a priority,
whether it is buying grocery, paying a bill, or filling a prescription. Sometimes, it is better to just
do what needs to be done. If you can drop off a meal, tell them. If you make a payment on one
of their bills, say so. If you have a few friends who can get together to clean the person’s house,
offer to do that. If you can pick up their children from school, ask if they would like that. There
are many ways to be friend, to be in community, and to let people know they are not alone.

If you are struggling with mental health issues, reach out for help. Mental Health and
Psychosocial Support Helplines are 816-3799, 812-0576, and 815-5850. The phone number for
assistance in Creole is 454-2993. For children and parents, the phone number is 819-7652. The
Community Counseling and Assessment Center phone number is 323-3293.

Recommendations

1. Read A Mouth Full of Salt by Reem Gaafar with Feminist Book Club. On Wednesday,
October 16, Feminist Book Club, hosted by Equality Bahamas and Poinciana Paper Press, will
meet to talk about this book set in Sudan. The New Arab said, “A Mouth Full of Salt skilfully
recounts the nuanced history of two countries that were divided long before they had any say in
the matter. Gaafar approaches this narrative with compassion, confronting uncomfortable truths
head-on.”

2. Go to the opening of two exhibitions at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas on Thursday,
September 19. It Comes From the Head: A Straw Heritage, curated by Simone Cambridge,
includes artists Tamika Galanis, Anina Major, Jodi Minnie, and Averia Wright. The exhibition
“encourages the recognition of straw work’s stake in the nation’s cultural fabric as a
contemporary mode of expression.” A Small Remainder of Teeth: Eco-Horror and the Anti-
Paradise, curated by Letitia Pratt, features artists John Beadle, Stan Burnside, John Cox,
Michael Edwards, Sonia Farmer, Dwight Ferguson, Blake Fox-Belcher, and Kendal Hanna. It
“brings together works by artists who engage with these unsettling themes, highlighting the
tension between the human and non-human, and examining the deep-seated vulnerabilities shaped by both colonial histories of ecological violence and current climate realities.” The
exhibitions open on September 19 at 7pm.