Several events will be held on the island to highlight and celebrate April’s status as Counselling Awareness Month.
The Bermuda Counsellors Association will use the month, recognised annually by the American Counsellors Association, to shine a light on the mental health workers who work tirelessly to improve lives and help people heal.
To mark Counselling Awareness Month Proclamation Day yesterday [April 6], the BCA held a zoom call with some of its members and Minister of Social Development and Seniors Tinee Furbert.
Camille Creary, the BCA chair, said the international commemoration month “not only honours professionals who do the work but helps people understand what counselling is and how it can benefit them.”
She added: “There are a lot of benefits to having counselling, and yet many people still don’t reach out.
“The Bermuda Counsellors Association has taken it upon itself, not just this year, but every year since its inception, to raise awareness of the variety of different counselling professions within Bermuda.
“The island has been through the grinder in the past couple of years, but as a community, we remain strong despite our increased levels of stress.
“The BCA is committed to directly informing our communities in the best way possible and bringing awareness to the resources available to them.”
Today [Friday] is Teal Day – a day where people are encouraged to wear teal as an outward symbol of advocacy and hope for counsellors.
A meet and greet will also be held at the Hamilton Seventh-day Adventist Church on April 22 from 10 am to 3 pm.
“We are hoping to have as many counsellors there as possible to introduce them to the communities they serve,” Creary said.
“The community members will have a better chance of understanding the services that each counselling agency provides.”
Minister Furbert said it was crucial to recognise Bermuda’s counsellors “who have chosen a profession whereby they can help others cultivate their best selves.”
She added: “Over the past two years counsellors have come to the forefront as our communities were forced to sit with ourselves at home during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Counsellors within our tight-knit community continued to work tirelessly to help not only our most vulnerable populations but also those in need of everyday support.
“I call upon all of Bermuda’s citizens in government agencies, public and private institutions, businesses and schools to increase the awareness of the counselling profession within our community.”
For more details visit the BCA website at Bermudacounsellors.com or visit their Facebook page here.
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