07/08/2026
Awareness Must Lead to Access
This article raises an important and very necessary question: what happens after someone finds the courage to say, "I need help"?
I fully agree that mental-health awareness cannot end with campaigns, conversations, and encouraging people to speak. Awareness should lead to accessibility, timely, compassionate, and affordable care.
I would, however, like to add another perspective to this conversation.
There are people and organizations in Aruba who are willing to step forward and provide support completely free of charge.
At Agape Biblical Counseling (ABC), our mission is to provide compassionate, biblically based counseling and support to individuals, couples, families, and children who are struggling. We do not charge for our services. We do this because we believe that caring for people is a responsibility and, ultimately, an opportunity to glorify God by loving and serving His image-bearers.
And our doors are open.
We welcome people regardless of their religion, faith, race, sexual orientation, or background. We do not believe that someone has to look, think, or believe like us before they deserve compassion, a listening ear, and support.
At the same time, ABC is intentionally biblical in its approach. We believe that our faith is not something we should hide or remove simply to make our services more acceptable to a secular audience. Our approach is part of who we are, just as other organizations have their own professional philosophies and approaches.
This has sometimes created challenges when seeking collaboration, recognition, or funding within the wider mental-health community. We have approached several organizations and institutions with the desire to contribute to the wellbeing of our community, but those efforts have not always resulted in an opportunity to work together or provide the assistance we are prepared to offer. Funding has also been difficult to obtain when our faith-based approach does not fit the criteria of certain funding organizations.
I don't share this to criticize or condemn anyone.
Rather, I believe it is part of the conversation we need to have.
If we are telling people, "You are not alone. Please speak up. Please ask for help," then we should also be willing to ask ourselves:
Are we making room for everyone who is willing and qualified to help?
Awareness needs accessibility. Accessibility needs cooperation. And cooperation requires that we sometimes look beyond our differences in philosophy and recognize a shared desire to see people helped before they reach a crisis point.
There is certainly more work to be done in Aruba.
And we at Agape Biblical Counseling remain willing to do our part, with humility, compassion, and without cost to those we serve.
Because the goal should not simply be to get people to speak.
The goal should be to make sure that when they finally do, someone is there to listen.
Ryan Gomez
Biblical Counselor
Salud Mental: Nos Ta Bisa Hende pa Busca Ayudo, Pero e Ayudo Ey Ta Realmente Disponibel?
Salud mental no ta un tema cu ta wordo discuti unicamente tras di portanan cera mas. Scolnan ta organisa actividadnan di conscientisacion, dunadornan di trabou ta promove e bienestar, figuranan publico ta describi nan mesun luchanan, y rednan social ta recorda nos constantemente cu pidi ayudo ta un señal di forsa.
E cambio cultural aki ta importante. Miedo y silencio a impedi generacionnan di admiti cu nan tabata luchando. Un conscientisacion mas grandi a duna hopi persona e forsa pa reconoce ansiedad, depresion, trauma, adiccion, y e agotamento emocional.
https://awemainta.info/salud-mental-nos-ta-bisa-hende-pa-busca-ayudo-pero-e-ayudo-ey-ta-realmente-disponibel/
