Smile a while - Bounty Killer urges men to address mental health

Dancehall megastar Bounty Killer has urged men to prioritise their mental health, stressing that neglecting it can lead to serious emotional and psychological consequences, affecting not only their well-being but also their relationships and overall quality of life.

Speaking at a handover ceremony at Bellevue Hospital in Kingston on Thursday, the once "cross, angry, and miserable" deejay opened up about his own battles with anger.

"I used to have anger issues that got me in problem in the past years - that's a mental issue too - when yuh can't control yuh temper and yuh composure. And I learned from cross, angry, miserable to calm, cool, collected," he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Bounty Killer highlighted the importance of mental health for men, especially in Jamaica's macho culture.

"Mental health is very, very important. That's like the pilot - a it direct wi fi do weh wi a do. Suh yuh affi tek care a yuh mental health at all time. Most times, a man kill people and kill demself. Yuh barely hear a woman do dat and it's a serious thing with we Jamaican man," Bounty Killer told THE WEEKEND STAR.

He also called out the stigma around men showing emotions, saying that society doesn't provide enough space for men to express their feelings.

"If men cry, is like yuh soft. If yuh have an emotion and yuh want to let it out, yuh fi let it out, and if a tears fi come, a tears fi come. When yuh hold in things, it might lead to other things. But, in our society, wi [men] have a image weh wi affi live up to. 'Man hardcore, man rough' - but man a man and a human being same way and wi all guh through things."

He urged people to support others going through tough times and not "ridicule" them.

"Try and find out weh dem a guh through mentally - give dem a shoulder to cry on and don't ridicule dem," he urged.

He said that sometimes men have to put down the image and "just go through yuh emotion".

"Dats why mi leggo 'cross, angry, miserable', nuh tru mi a Bounty and mi can smile fi a while and mek mi face rest," he said.

Bounty Killer's visit to Bellevue was more than just words. The 'Poor People Defender' donated air conditioning units, wheelchairs, and other medical equipment to the hospital through the Bounty Foundation. His contribution is part of an initiative to renovate Bellevue's family room, providing a more comfortable environment for patients and their families. Bellevue Hospital is Jamaica's only psychiatric hospital.

The artiste was also "deeply moved" by a recent gesture of young men from charity group Chairmen of the Board, contributing roofing materials to the hospital following Hurricane Beryl, which prompted him to offer further assistance.

"It's the beginning of greatness. I always wanted to be of some support to the Bellevue Hospital because I always imagine going through mental disabilities and how would that be for a person. So I always say one day I'm gonna make the time because I'm always working with the public hospitals," said Bounty Killer, who promised future collaborations with Bellevue as he's now "officially on board" as partner with the institution.

The hospital's CEO, Suzette Buchanan, said Bounty's contribution was a "well needed" and timely gesture that the hospital and entire team welcomed.

"I want to thank Bounty Foundation, they could not have come at a better time and we're really happy that, as a foundation, you and your team took the initiative to reach out to us, because it tells us that you're in touch and we love when the stars attach their brands to Brand Bellevue, because [our] brand is also a star as we are the leading psychiatric hospital in the English-speaking Caribbean," said Buchanan.

"So we're happy and we welcome the donation because it is geared towards equipping our family room and we have over 400 social cases at Bellevue Hospital [of persons who] don't have any family support," she added.

Bounty Killer also advised artistes and the general public not to make a mockery of people with mental issues or use the topic of mental health as a form of "gimmicks" in their music or to seek public attention.

"They are just insensitive. Even weh day when Valiant sing di song [ Mad Out] dem seh is like yuh a mock a mad person or you're celebrating madness like it's a great thing. Other people bring it up in their views and said it was like an insult to a mad person. Yuh mek it look fun but we know seh is not a nice ting, because nobody nuh waah mad out, and that's the reality," said Bounty Killer.