Background

Rotary International made Mental Health a priority during the 2023-2024 Rotary year with then RI President Gordon McInally leading the charge with his Presidential Initiative which advocated for clubs and districts across the globe to really start to pay attention to the mental health of members and the state of mental health in communities.

Consequently, many clubs and districts initiated new mental health projects and activities, while others grew and strengthened their existing ones. This initiative and its objectives resonated so well among our global Rotary family that it will remain a Rotary priority during the current 2024-2025 Rotary year and is strongly endorsed by current RI President Stephanie Urchick and the RI Board of Directors for future years.

One of the main opportunities to be highlighted during this initiative was that of the Rotary Action Group on Mental Health Initiatives (RAGMHI) which was formed in 2015 and has been providing guidance, resources and programs for members, clubs and districts in a variety of topics that cover mental health, wellness and well-being. Additionally, the RAGMHI seeks to establish a more “local” presence through its chapter opportunities where a particular geographic area’s more specialized needs can be better met and its specific circumstances can be better accommodated. With over 35 District chapters around the world, the RAGMHI has been able to provide bespoke assistance to members and clubs seeking to conduct targeted mental health projects and activities in respective areas.

Given the diversity in needs, resources, practices, etc. among the various countries and territories within the Caribbean, the Board of the RAGMHI considered that a District Chapter may not necessarily be most appropriate for District 7030 as it assumes certain and some levels of equity and equivalence among member countries and clubs. So a new option was created to accommodate members and clubs in the Caribbean - one which would better suit our needs, resources and capabilities and will not only accommodate the specific circumstances and characteristics of each of member country and/or territory, but also, allow for better flexibility and customization in approaching solutions, projects, activities and collaborative actions by each country's/territory's cluster of clubs (or even an individual club should the need arise).

CAGMHI-T&T

After many months of planning, brainstorming and discussion, the Country Action Group on Mental Health Initiatives for Trinidad and Tobago (CAGMHI-T&T) was officially established and chartered in August 2024 as the first county chapter of the RAGMHI and the first Rotary Action Group chapter of any kind in District 7030.

With participation and input from a broad cross-section of members from clubs across Trinidad and Tobago, including local experts and professionals in the mental health field, the CAGMHI-T&T is now ready to begin fulfilling its vision to

Create and support opportunities for every member of the Rotary family, as well as, every adult and child in Trinidad and Tobago to improve their mental health and wellness in order to lead a healthy, happy and productive life.

In this light, members of the CAGMHI-T&T will work together to develop and offer programs, initiatives and resources to improve mental health, wellness and well-being across communities in Trinidad and Tobago.

Priorities

Similar to the RAGMHI, the CAGMHI-T&T maintains the following priorities as its core directives

• Breaking Stigma associated with caring about emotional well-being
• Raising Awareness about mental health needs
• Increasing Access to and Capacity of mental health services
• Expanding Engagement among local clubs and members
  

These in turn help shape and guide the goals, objectives and actions of the CAGMHI-T&T in its planning and implementation of various programs and activities.

Offerings

With a comprehensive strategy to its goals, objectives, and offerings, the CAGMHI-T&T is not only looking to provide meaningful and impactful resources to local members and clubs, but plans to do so in a phased, managed and sustainable approach.

Some of the initial offerings of the CAGMHI-T&T shall include:

• 100% Club Engagement and Representation - a primary goal of the CAGMHI-T&T is to have at least one representative from each Rotary and Rotaract club in T&T become a member of the chapter. Mental Health Champions - to help achieve its main priorities, CAGMHI-T&T members will receive learning opportunities to become
• Mental Health Champions - non-expert individuals who advocate for good mental health care and practices among member of the Rotary family and communities at large, as well as, who can provide information and direction on how and where to find help and resources.
• Mental Health Learning and On-Boarding - with the goals of building awareness and increasing capacity, the CAGMHI-T&T will host quarterly educational and solutions-oriented webinars on a variety of curated topics dealing with mental health concerns both within Rotary and among various segments of the local community, as well as, include a variety of experts speakers and professional in the field.
• Toolkits - the CAGMHI-T&T will ensure all clubs are aware of and oriented to the various mental health toolkits freely available from the RAGMHI.
• Club Project Support - the CAGMHI-T&T will have a team of persons dedicated to providing requested and/or required guidance and support to clubs seeking to begin, enhance or sustain mental health projects and activities.
• Strategic Partnerships - the CAGMHI-T&T recognized that there is already much being offered and available in the mental health space in Trinidad and Tobago, and, therefore, shall be seeking to partner and collaborate with a variety of individuals, groups and organizations which are actively providing resources, assistance and opportunities which can be leveraged within and along-side various CAGMHI-T&T programs
  
  

In this light, members of the CAGMHI-T&T will work together to develop and offer programs, initiatives and resources to improve mental health, wellness and well-being across communities in Trinidad and Tobago.

How To Get Involved

Chapter membership in the CAGMHI-T&T is not only open to any and all Rotarians and Rotaractors in Trinidad and Tobago, but also, non-members of the Rotary family who are experts and professionals in the mental health field, or have a passion for mental health.

To join the CAGMHI-T&T, you can follow these steps:

1. Start by completing this online application form 
2. You will then be directed to pay CAGMHI-T&T member dues (US $35 for one year or US $60 for two years)
3. Upon payment, you will receive a welcome email granting you access to complete your profile on the RAGMHI websites
   

There are many benefits to becoming involved in the CAGMHI-T&T

• Persons who join the chapter automatically become members of the RAGMHI
• Persons can actively participate in and contribute to the planning and implementation of chapter programs…thus, helping to steer the course of the CAGMHI-T&T and in meetings its goals
• Persons can access a wider network of mental health resources through the global network of the RAGMHI
• Persons receive opportunity to become Mental Health Champions in their club and community