CIRCLE of Care Jamaica (COCJ) has successfully concluded a pioneering mental health support project designed to address the often-overlooked emotional challenges faced by men and boys. Funded by the United States Embassy in Kingston, the initiative reached over 60 men and boys across the parishes of Clarendon, St Catherine and St Thomas, providing counselling and empowerment in spaces where their voices are rarely heard.

The Support Services and Empowerment Programme focused on providing support services for female victims of abuse while engaging men and boys to dismantle harmful cultural beliefs, particularly the myth that “men are weak if they express their emotions”. Through trauma-informed counselling sessions and community discussions, participants were encouraged to share openly, build resilience, and normalise conversations around mental health.

In addition to direct counselling and mental health support, the project offered personal and business development sessions, equipping participants with practical tools to improve their livelihoods and personal growth. This holistic approach aimed not only to heal emotional wounds but also to empower men and boys to envision and build brighter futures.

“We recognised that meaningful change requires us to address the emotional well-being of men and boys as part of the larger fight against gender-based violence,” said Alicia Bowen McCulskie, executive director of Circle of Care Jamaica. “By combining mental health support with personal and business development, this project created space for participants to heal, grow, and actively contribute to healthier communities.”

With the support of the United States Embassy, the initiative underscores a shared commitment to holistic solutions, recognising that addressing mental health, economic empowerment, and cultural change must go hand in hand in the effort to reduce gender-based violence. Over 130 people across the parishes of Clarendon, St Catherine, Kingston and St Andrew and St Thomas benefited from the project

Circle of Care Jamaica remains committed to delivering inclusive, trauma-informed programmes that transform lives and reshape how mental health is understood in Jamaican communities.

Alicia Brown McCulksie engages with participants in the Support Services and Empowerment Programme, which provided counselling and empowerment support to 60 boys and men across three parishes.