KINGSTON, Jamaica \u2014\u00a0An initiative aimed at reshaping conversations surrounding men\u2019s mental health, emotional well-being, and leadership in Jamaica will take centre stage on June 13 with the staging of the\u00a0Redefining Men\u2019s Wellness Conference & Award Ceremony.<\/p>\n
Set for the Hope Fellowship Auditorium in Kingston from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, the event is being spearheaded by author and life coach Shareka Swaby, who says the conference was born from years of observing the emotional struggles many men silently carry.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Redefining Men\u2019s Wellness Conference was birthed out of a need I observed through my experience as a life coach who works with men. I found that I heard the same thing from almost every man: \u2018Men aren\u2019t allowed to have emotions or express their feelings,\u201d Swaby said.<\/p>\n
She noted that ongoing discussions surrounding men\u2019s welfare in Jamaica, coupled with media reports highlighting the challenges men face emotionally and socially, reinforced the need for a dedicated safe space.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I listened to conversations about men\u2019s wellbeing, along with the consistent articles in the media expressing the state of men\u2019s welfare in our country, it highlighted the urgent need for a space for men not just to be educated, but also to safely express themselves,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The conference will tackle issues surrounding emotional fitness, mental wellness, leadership and fatherhood, while encouraging men to seek support systems without shame or stigma.<\/p>\n
According to Swaby, one of the primary goals is to bridge the gap between emotional suppression and emotional healing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe conference is aimed at bridging the gap between \u2018it\u2019s not safe to express myself\u2019 and \u2018I feel safe booking an appointment with my therapist or wellness coach,\u2019\u201d she shared. \u201cIt also aims at educating men so they can see how a lack of emotional stability destroys not only their lives, but also the lives of their families and children.\u201d<\/p>\n
Originally conceptualised as solely a conference, the event evolved into a collaboration with Thriecia Tyndale, who had previously hosted a Father\u2019s Day dinner and award ceremony.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe both thought it was perfect alignment,\u201d Swaby said.<\/p>\n
In addition to the conference sessions, attendees will also be recognised during the award ceremony segment. Swaby explained that every man present will receive a certificate of appreciation simply for showing up and participating.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact that they show up speaks volumes,\u201d she said. \u201cThat is indeed one of the biggest steps in wanting to improve their overall wellness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Special tokens of appreciation will also be presented to fathers, uncles, nephews and brothers in recognition of their roles within families and communities. Additionally, several men who have made significant contributions across various industries \u2014 particularly in service \u2014 will be honoured for their impact.<\/p>\n
The conference will feature keynote speakers selected specifically for their expertise in men\u2019s wellness and leadership development. Topics to be explored include\u00a0Breaking the \u2018Man Up\u2019 Myth,\u00a0Emotional Fitness for Men, and\u00a0Fatherhood.<\/p>\n
Recognising the cultural sensitivities surrounding men\u2019s mental health in the Caribbean, Swaby says intentional efforts are being made to create a safe and judgement-free environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a strictly male-centred environment,\u201d she explained. \u201cAs much as possible, the presenters and attendees will be male. The females in the room will serve as ushers and facilitators. I believe educating men first before we start having conversations will help create that sense of safety.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added that any form of ridicule or mockery will not be tolerated.<\/p>\n
Beyond the day\u2019s activities, Swaby hopes the conference sparks a cultural shift in how Jamaican society approaches men\u2019s mental health and emotional wellbeing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are losing as a society because we are losing our men. We lose men, we lose families,\u201d she stated. \u201cIf as a man you have ever felt frustrated, overwhelmed, tired, angry or just downright fed up, then this is the space you want to be in on June 13, 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
The organisers also hope the initiative evolves into both an annual event and a wider regional movement focused on men\u2019s wellness across Jamaica and the Caribbean.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. Both. It is intended to become an annual event and it is the first step into a larger movement for men\u2019s wellness,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n
While sponsorship outreach is still ongoing, HEART Trust has already confirmed its attendance, and the Ministry of Health has provided informational materials in support of the initiative. Organisers say they remain open to additional partnerships and sponsorship opportunities in both cash and kind.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, Swaby explained that the mission extends far beyond a single day.<\/p>\n
\u201cJamaicans are very good at one-day wonders, but what we hope to see is a continuation of conversations. We intend to keep that lamp burning with the other things that will be coming as well, and we welcome other stakeholders and participants to join us on this journey,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Shareka Swaby<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"KINGSTON, Jamaica \u2014\u00a0An initiative aimed at reshaping conversations surrounding men\u2019s mental health, emotional well-being, and leadership in Jamaica…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":443139,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[163,85,46,522,523],"class_list":["post-443138","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mental-health","tag-health","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-mental-health","tag-mentalhealth"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/443138","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=443138"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/443138\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/443139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=443138"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=443138"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=443138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}