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Mental health is real health because it is an integral part of our overall well-being. It influences our thoughts, how we feel, and act/react. Good mental health allows us to cope with the stresses of life. If we neglect our mental health this can affect our physical health and decrease our quality of life along with a plethora of other manifestations. We must treat mental health issues with the same level of urgency and compassion as physical health conditions.

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Maternal health and postpartum care is such an important part of the health and survival of both mother and baby. It is crucial to ensure that both mom and baby are receiving adequate support for physical recovery and ensuring that we address any needs or concerns which may arise. During the recovery process education on nutrition, exercise, breastfeeding, and newborn care are so important. It is also vital to facilitate mother-baby bonding and attachment.

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I have had my own personal struggles with my mental health. During my first degree, I experienced depression and anxiety however, I didn't know that was what I was experiencing. I ignored it for some time and coped by masking when around friends and family until ultimately it started affecting my everyday function and I decided to seek help and guidance. Luckily, at Brock University mental health resources and support were readily available. I saw a psychiatrist who better explained to me what exactly I was experiencing and offered interventions such as prescription SSRIs and referred me to a psychotherapist. I met my wonderful therapist during this process who by coincidence was from the same parish as me in Jamaica so having that connection really helped us build a trusting practitioner-patient relationship. I ultimately learned and developed healthy coping strategies and I no longer required the use of prescription SSRIs.

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Mental health has only recently been classified as a health science. Therefore there is still so much work that needs to be done to increase mental health support and services for people globally.

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Why does diversity need to be acknowledged in healthcare?

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Why does diversity need to be acknowledged in healthcare?

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A diverse healthcare environment is very important. Diversity creates an inclusive and respectful work environment where different perspectives are valued. It also improves the healthcare team's ability to connect with and understand patients from different racial backgrounds. The presence of minority groups and POC in the healthcare space also challenges various stereotypes and promotes representation which can be comforting for patients from similar backgrounds.

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My aesthetic project presents an imagery of the strain in the relationship between the healthcare system and black and brown people. Growing up in an Afro-Caribbean household I've witnessed firsthand the strain between black people and the healthcare system. I've had family members completely refuse to seek healthcare because of the fear associated with receiving care from someone they didn't feel could truly relate to them. This fear and mistrust appears to be related to trauma related to events in history where power imbalances existed due to colonialism. As nurses, we must understand the contextual reasons of why a person may be hesitant to accept treatment and interventions.

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Cultural competence is an important part of providing patient-centred care. We must practice cultural competence by respecting, understanding, and responding to the cultural and linguistic needs of patients. A culturally competent approach to care ensures that patient care is tailored to meet the diverse cultural beliefs, practices, and preferences of patients. This in turn builds trust, improves patient outcomes and strengthens the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship.

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This image represents the combination of health, religion and spirituality. As a Christian, I believe respecting someone's spirituality and religious practices is an important part of nursing care. It is important to approach each patient with a non-judgmental attitude and a willingness to understand their unique cultural and spiritual needs.

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This image represents the diversity of healthcare workers. It is important to have a diverse workforce as this offers a wide range of perspectives and knowledge which helps nurses and fellow healthcare providers better understand and meet the needs of patients from various backgrounds. As a person who represents a minority demographic being a woman and being Afro-Caribbean, I believe it's very important for me to be a part of the change we want to see as far as increasing representation of POC in the healthcare setting and offering new perspectives to patient care.

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This image represents the many different aspects of what makes up culture, it isn't just where someone is from or their race.

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This photo is also from lab where I was able to practice my newborn assessment. This truly did help me work on my skills before entering my maternal-child placement. During placement, I felt comfortable completing assessments and was able to improve my skillset while working with amazing moms and babies.

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This picture was taken during my first 2021 lab. As someone who has not had this experience personally, wearing the empathy belly truly puts into perspective just how much physiological impact being pregnant has on a mother. Even simple tasks like being able to bend down and tie your shoes become difficult. This experience increased my respect for mothers and the changes they experience during this special phase of life.

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This video gives us insight into the point of view of people from different races, nationalities, ethnicities, gender identities, cultures, religions and educational backgrounds. These individuals share their personal experiences in various healthcare settings and shed light on how healthcare professionals can improve their approach when addressing and interacting with patients to facilitate a culturally competent exchange.

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Movement has now become an outlet and a form of self-care for me. It has significantly helped with improving my mental health. Throughout my wellness journey, I've discovered that working out isn't just about looking fit on the outside. It also improves how you feel and how you think about yourself on the inside, it fills you with a sense of accomplishment, and confidence and boosts your self-esteem.

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1. About Mental Health

2. Health care providers and people with mental illness: An integrative review on anti-stigma interventions

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1. The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in the Healthcare Workforce

2. Diversity and Discrimination in Health Care

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1. Cultural Competence in Nursing: A Pathway to Patient-Centered Care

2. Cultural Religious Competence in Clinical Practice

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Diversity in Healthcare: Representation Matters

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Diversity in Healthcare: Representation Matters

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Stanford, F. C. (2020). The importance of diversity and inclusion in the healthcare workforce. Journal of the National Medical Association, 112(3), 247–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnma.2020.03.014

Togioka, B. M., Duvivier, D., & Young, E. (2024, May 2). Diversity and discrimination in health care. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK568721/

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Cultural Competence in Nursing: a pathway to Patient-Centered care. (2024). In Nevada State University. Retrieved July 23, 2024, from https://nevadastate.edu/son/rn-bsn/cultural-competence-in-nursing/

Swihart, D. L., Yarrarapu, S. N. S., & Martin, R. L. (2023, July 24). Cultural religious competence in clinical practice. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493216/#:~:text=It%20is%20important%20for%20healthcare,at%20an%20intensely%20stressful%20time.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.) About mental health. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm#:~:text=Mental%20health%20includes%20our%20emotional,others%2C%20and%20make%20healthy%20choices.&text=Mental%20health%20is%20important%20at,childhood%20and%20adolescence%20through%20adulthood.

Carrara, B. S., Fernandes, R. H. H., Bobbili, S. J., & Ventura, C. a. A. (2020). Health care providers and people with mental illness: An integrative review on anti-stigma interventions. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 67(7), 840–853. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020985891

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My 2021 clinical and lab provided great insight and experience in the physical postpartum recovery however not much on the mental health side with postpartum recovery. I believe both go hand in hand and would love to learn more.

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Hi, my name is Kalaycia McLeggon and I'm a Compressed BSN student at Trent University. I and my family immigrated to Canada from Jamaica when I was 10 years old and lived in Malton, Ontario before moving and settling in Toronto, Ontario. I have a previous BSc degree from Brock University and originally had a dream of becoming a physiotherapist. However, as I progressed through life my focus shifted. I now have an interest in issues concerning, race, equality, mental health and inclusivity in the healthcare space. My goal now is to venture deeper into the mental health space becoming a mental health nurse who provides culturally sensitive care to all people regardless of culture, race or religion.

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This image is of my first clinical placement in the program and the first ever experience I've had in a nursing role. This was during my long-term-care placement. Here I met some amazing people in my cohort who were amazing to work alongside. Even though this was a new experience for most of us this group truly embodied a commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centred care. It was very motivating to work alongside a group of like-minded individuals.

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Pictured here are myself and an amazing friend that I've made since being in this program. This was taken after we had donned our PPE for our ebola simulation. An experience that allowed me to picture myself on the frontlines during a pandemic scenario. Where stress levels are high and everyone is relying on us as nurses to help. It truly showed me how vital nurses are and also how much pressure we are under to be the superheroes in this scenario. Throughout this experience with my friend, we provided support for each other and encouragement. This is truly symbolic of the relationship we've built and how we continue to support each other every step of the way through this unique journey of nursing.

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My mother has been my biggest supporter in every avenue of my life. She is a voice of reason and a source of wisdom. She listens and hears my dreams and breathes life into them always believing in me even when I may not believe in myself. She is so supportive of my nursing journey and encourages me every step of the way. My mom is an ECE who works with school-age children with varying needs. I see her patience and how she caters her approach to every child in her care and it is absolutely inspirational. I believe my interest in mental health may be partially influenced by witnessing how much she cares for her students. I believe everyone deserves that level of dedication no matter who they are or what they are going through.

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Spiritual health is something I consider to be real. As I have embarked upon this new journey my faith in Jesus has increased. Taking the time to read and reflect on scripture and practicing prayer daily has been a vital part of building trust in God as my source of strength.

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1. Postpartum Depression (Nursing)

2. Postpartum Care of the New Mother

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Maternal Health: PPD, Physical and Mental Health Recovery for Moms

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Maternal Health: PPD, Physical and Mental Health Recovery for Moms

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In Canada, though there is still much work to be done as far as increasing access to mental health services there has been much progress made. In this country, there are many facilities, organizations and initiatives which have been launched and are currently being utilized by the public and it's amazing to watch and see what the future holds.

Pictured above is Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences where I completed my NURS 2021 mental health placement.

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In comparison, mental health access is severely limited back home in Jamaica. In the country, there is currently only one Psychiatric facility which is the Bellevue Hospital located in Kingston Jamaica. The hospital accommodates a maximum of 400 patients (About Us – Bellevue Hospital Jamaica, n.d.). Bellevue Hospital has been around for a long time, I've heard about this facility since I was a child however there have been no recent advancements with new facilities even with the increase in mental health demands of residents on the island. This makes me wonder, how does the limited access to mental health services affect those who cannot access immediate care? And, how do residents in remote areas access mental health care given the only psychiatric facility is located in Kingston? Also, how would locals on the island benefit from receiving increased access to healthcare as we see in Canada?

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1. Global Mental Health: Where We Are and Where We Are Going

2. Impact of mental health stigma on help-seeking in the Caribbean: Systematic review

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About us – Bellevue Hospital Jamaica. (n.d.). https://bvh.gov.jm/about-us/

Gallimore, J., Diaz, K. G., Gunasinghe, C., Thornicroft, G., Salisbury, T. T., & Gronholm, P. C. (2023). Impact of mental health stigma on help-seeking in the Caribbean: Systematic review. PloS One, 18(9), e0291307. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291307

Moitra, M., Owens, S., Hailemariam, M., Wilson, K. S., Mensa-Kwao, A., Gonese, G., Kamamia, C. K., White, B., Young, D. M., & Collins, P. Y. (2023). Global mental health: Where we are and where we are going. Current Psycchiatry Reports/Current Psychiatry Reports, 25(7), 301–311. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-023-01426-8

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Lopez-Gonzalez, D. M., & Kopparapu, A. K. (2022, December 11). Postpartum care of the new mother. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK565875/

Mughal, S., Azhar, Y., Siddiqui, W., & May, K. (2022, October 7). Postpartum depression (Nursing). StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK568673/

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Thank you for taking the time to view my podcast tapestry!