MONTEGO BAY, St James — In a bid to assist hundreds of students dealing with mental health issues, the ACE Institute is looking to raise a significant sum for its awareness programme.

According to founder of the Montego Bay-based institute, Lakin Wynter, after a small but successful event on World Mental Health Day last October, the institute is looking to go much bigger this year.

“For this year’s events we are looking to raise about $5 million this year,” Wynter told the
Jamaica Observer.

She said this year the institute plans to host some 200 students in a massive workshop at a location in St James.

At that event the students will be provided with advice on how to deal with mental health issues while also participating in a group painting exercise.

Following that, 10 schools will be visited over a 10-week period, during which similar activities will be done with the students.

Wynter said while the ACE Institute was able to finance the event last year, this year’s ambitions will require a bit more in terms of capital and it is now looking at ways to raise a substantial sum.

“We are trying to raise funds to do our next tour, and in order to do that we will be selling paint and sip kits which include art supplies, such as paint, paint brushes, a pre-sketched canvas, and Carib Rose beer, or a bottle of water,” Wynter explained.

She said the institute will also be looking at selling the services of its members to further boost its earnings.

“We’ll also be doing workshops, [and] we are hoping that the general public, the private sector [and], government agencies will come on board and invite us to host paint and sip creative team-building workshops to inspire and motivate employees to create highly engaging pieces of artwork as a group,” added Wynter as she argued that the issues students face in terms of mental health sometimes go undiscovered until too late.

“We are reminded of the profound impact that education can have in shaping our lives and understanding mental health and financial literacy. I believe that individuals can navigate life challenges with confidence and clarity,” said Wynter while admitting that she went through a difficult patch as it related to her mental health.

“I’ve been affected by a mental illness called bipolar disorder for 14 years now and I had to drop out of university and faced bankruptcy, and I was homeless at one point in my life.

“It was through correct education about mental health and financial literacy that got me off of the street and to start my own initiative,” declared Wynter, who is convinced that it is important to teach these students, who sometimes go through challenging times, to focus on something else to ease their minds.

“I believe that in educating our high school students about the management of mental health and also to educate them about the misconceptions about mental health.

“Through my experiences of bankruptcy, dropping out of university and being homeless, I believe that my struggle reflects the challenges many students face in today’s world,” said Wynter.