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IGNITING HOPE: GRACE HILL BIBLE UNIVERSITY HOSTS TRANSFORMATIVE SUICIDE PREVENTION MASTER CLASS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labor ( VSA) AND VICTORIOUS LIVING

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Public Health, Social Development and Labor

IGNITING HOPE: GRACE HILL BIBLE UNIVERSITY HOSTS TRANSFORMATIVE SUICIDE PREVENTION MASTER CLASS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labor ( VSA) AND VICTORIOUS LIVING

Wed Jan 29 2025

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​PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – On January 20th, the Grace Hill Bible University, St. Maarten Campus’ counseling degree program, in partnership with Victorious Living Foundation and the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labor (VSA), hosted a transformative suicide prevention Master Class under the theme, “Igniting Hope in Our Community: Preventing Suicide.” Held at the St. Maarten Government Administration Building, the event aimed to raise awareness and provide critical tools for suicide assessment, prevention, and treatment.

With over 300 attendees participating in person and online—and more than 1,000 total views since the event—it was clear this initiative struck a chord within the community. Suicide affects people of all ages and backgrounds, and the Master Class served as a crucial step toward breaking the stigma surrounding mental health conversations on the island.
The event was spearheaded by Dr. Erna Mae Francis-Cotton, along with Master’s Counseling Degree students Minerva Warner Hughes, Georges Richardson, Barbara Cocks, Pastor Vital Dominique, and Sachida Thomasia-Hyman. Together, they demonstrated the power of education and collaboration in addressing this pressing issue.
Minister of Public Health, Social Development & Labor, the Honorable Mr. Richinel Brug, emphasized the importance of initiatives like these during his address. “When Mrs. Erna Mae Francis-Cotton approached us with this initiative, there was no hesitation. Victorious Living Foundation has always been about improving lives, and VSA shares that same mission. This partnership was a natural fit. If you have future projects, just reach out,” he said.
Minister Brug further highlighted the timeliness of the event: “This initiative is long overdue, especially considering the lives lost over the past year. Suicide has often been treated as a taboo topic in our community, but by addressing it head-on, you’re breaking barriers and making a lasting impact.”
The Master Class featured insightful presentations from the Master’s Counseling Degree students, covering topics such as youth suicide, substance abuse, and tailored prevention strategies for clergy. Attendees also benefited from the expertise of keynote speaker Dr.Ann Marlin Evans, who stressed the urgency of innovative solutions to support those in need.
Minister Brug extended his gratitude to the organizers and participants, expressing his hope for more initiatives that shed light on mental health challenges. This event demonstrated the power of community partnerships and underscored the need to continue fostering open conversations about mental health and wellness.
For more information on upcoming initiatives or support, please contact Grace Hill Bible University or the Ministry of VSA. Together, we can keep igniting hope in our community.
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Salubridat Públiko, Desaroyo Sosial i Labor SPERANSA ENCENDENTE: UNIVERSIDAD BÍBLIKA DI GRACE HILL TA ANFISIÓN DI KLAS MAESTRO DI PREVENSHON DI SUISIDIO TRANSFORMATIVO DEN AKORASHON KU Ministerio di Salú Públiko, Desaroyo Sosial i Labor (VSA) I VICTORIOUS LIVING Djarason 29 di yanüari 2025 ：PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Riba 20 di yanüari, e programa di konseho di Grace Hill Bible University, St. Maarten Campus, den koperashon ku Victorious Living Foundation i e Ministerio di Salú Públiko, Desaroyo Sosial i Labor (VSA), a organisá un programa transformativo Prevenshon di suisida Master Class bou di e tema, “Cendé Speransa den Nos Komunidat: Prevení Suisida.” Teni na e Edifisio di Atministrashon di Gobièrnu di St. Maarten, e evento tabatin komo meta pa konsientisá i proveé ​​hèrmèntnan krítiko pa evaluashon, prevenshon i tratamentu di suisida.

Ku mas ku 300 asistente partisipando personalmente i online—i mas ku 1.000 bista total for di e evento—tabata kla ku e inisiativa aki a dal un kòrda den e komunidat. Suisida ta afektá hende di tur edat i antecedente, i e Master Class a sirbi komo un paso krusial pa kibra e stigma rondó di kombersashonnan di salú mental riba e isla.

E evento a wòrdu enkabesá pa Dr. Erna Mae Francis-Cotton, huntu ku studiantenan di Master’s Counseling Degree Minerva Warner Hughes, Georges Richardson, Barbara Cocks, Pastor Vital Dominique, i Sachida Thomasia-Hyman. Huntu, nan a demostrá e poder di edukashon i kolaborashon den atendé e asuntu urgente aki.

Minister di Salubridat Públiko, Desaroyo Sosial & Labor, Honorabel Sr. Richinel Brug, a enfatisá e importansia di inisiativanan manera esakinan durante su diskurso. “Ora cu Sra. Erna Mae Francis-Cotton a acerca nos cu e iniciativa aki, no tabatin duda. Victorious Living Foundation semper tabata tokante di mehorá bida, i VSA ta kompartí e mesun mishon ei. E asosiashon aki tabata un fit natural. Si bo tin proyektonan den futuro, djis yega serka,” el a bisa.

Minister Brug a destaká mas aleu e oportunidat di e evento: “E inisiativa aki ta hopi atrasá, spesialmente konsiderando e bidanan pèrdí durante e último aña. Hopi bia suisida a wòrdu tratá komo un tópiko tabú den nos komunidat, pero dor di atendé esaki direktamente, bo ta kibrando bareranan i ta hasi un impakto duradero.”

E Master Class a konta ku presentashonnan perspikas di e studiantenan di e Master’s Counseling Degree, kubriendo tópikonan manera suisida hubenil, abusu di supstansia, i strategianan di prevenshon personalisá pa klero. E asistentenan tambe a benefisiá di e ekspertisio di e oradó prinsipal Dr.Ann Marlin Evans, kende a enfatisá e urgensia di solushonnan inovativo pa sostené esnan den nesesidat.

Minister Brug a ekstendé su gratitut na e organisadónan i partisipantenan, ekspresando su speransa pa mas inisiativa ku ta tira lus riba retonan di salú mental. E evento aki a demostrá e poder di partnershipnan den komunidat i a enfatisá e nesesidat pa sigui fomentá kombersashonnan habrí tokante salú mental i bienestar.

Pa mas informashon tokante inisiativanan òf sosten benidero, por fabor tuma kontakto ku Grace Hill Bible University òf e Ministerio di VSA. Huntu, nos por sigui sende speransa den nos komunidat.

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