Mental health advocate Nowell Lewin Jr is appealing for public support to attend a major World Health Organization (WHO) youth conference in Geneva, Switzerland, where he will represent Jamaica and the Caribbean in discussions on global health issues.

The conference, a joint collaboration between the WHO and the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) will bring together youth leaders, diplomats and policymakers from around the world to discuss key issues affecting global health.

The conference will run from Tuesday, October 28 to Friday, October 31.

Lewin, who is also a law student and founder of the mental health organisation, Global Integration Society, has been selected to participate in a committee focusing on social connection and mental health, a topic he says is close to his heart.

“As a mental health advocate, I think it’s really important for me to be part of that conversation to represent Jamaica and the Caribbean,” he said. “Too often, we don’t have Caribbean people in those spaces and I want to bring our perspective to the table.”

Participants in the conference are assigned countries to represent and are required to research their assigned nation’s stance on global health topics. The final outcome will be a resolution paper proposing concrete solutions to global health challenges. Lewin says he plans to share the recommendations with Jamaica’s Ministries of Health, Education and Foreign Affairs upon his return.

Although his conference fee has been sponsored, Lewin still faces significant financial hurdles. He needs approximately US$4,060 to cover airfare, accommodation and living expenses in Switzerland.

“I’ve reached out to multiple agencies, but most require three to six months’ notice,” he explained. “That’s unrealistic for opportunities like this where selection timelines are short.”

Lewin says his appeal is not only personal but also symbolic of a larger issue, the lack of financial support for Jamaican youth seeking to represent the country at international events.

“Young people continue to face challenges accessing funding to represent Jamaica at important global conferences,” he said. “If we want to include youth in decision-making, the Government and private sector must provide the necessary support.”

He added that addressing mental health is one of Jamaica’s most pressing issues.

“When it comes to mental health, we, in most cases, turn a blind eye and I want to break the stigma. There’s not a lot of people championing this cause because of the little significance we place on this issue even though it is intertwined into so many social issues: crime, education and family life,” he said. “There’s no health without mental health. So if we don’t support persons who want to champion this cause then we will continue to face the consequences,” he said.

Lewin is encouraging Jamaicans to rally behind his efforts, noting that supporting one advocate can help spark greater national awareness and change.

Those wishing to assist can make donations to Nowell Lewin’s account at the National Commercial Bank, May Pen Branch. The account number is 564741183.