Often the services provided by healthcare personnel is impersonal –they do not see the entire person in the patient, so when the patient presents with physical illnesses and diseases their emotional, social and mental well-being is not recognised as important even though a period of illness is a time when they are most vulnerable – a time when they are experiencing discomfort, fear and anxiety. Let me be clear –I am not advocating for every aspect of a person’s being to be pathologised, but rather I am making the point that feelings, needs, thoughts, cultures and emotions of patients do play a significant role in their overall well-being and should not be ignored during clinical interactions.

Mental and emotional health discussions are problematic and therefore treated like that family member or friend we don’t really get along with and try to avoid at all costs. But the UK Department of Health notes that “mental health is central to our quality of life, central to our economic success, and interdependent with our success in improving education, training and employment outcomes and tackling some of the persistent problems that scar our society, from homelessness, violence and abuse, to drug use and crime”. In other words, it is the core of life and well-being, and as it will affect one in four people during their lifetime, it is paramount that any healthcare interaction and support include an element of emotional and mental engagement.

Another reason for considering a patient’s mental and emotional well-being is because mental health is the largest cause of disability worldwide (WHO). This may come as a surprise to many because when most people speak of disability they are more than likely referring to physical impairments and not those that affects the mind.

However, Trinidad and Tobago has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and therefore has an obligation to address the mental health of its population in the context of human rights or face the consequences.

Nowadays people are living longer and they are doing so with a myriad of chronic illnesses, including comorbidity i.e. where a person has more than two disorders or illnesses which may affect each other.

According to WHO reports, the presence of mental illness increases the risk of other illnesses such as cardio-vascular disease, HIV and diabetes, and that people with longterm health conditions are two to three times more likely than the general population to experience mental health challenges.

An example of this is that depression frequently occurs in patients with diabetes, and that the presence of diabetes can double the chances of comorbid depression. Studies also show that there is a significant economic cost to diabetes and depression comorbidity – in that it has been found to increase healthcare costs over a six-month period by between 54 per cent and 88 per cent depending on the severity of the depression –a point worth noting given the financial and resource constraints at State-run health institutions.

In addition, there are also people living with chronic illnesses with unendurable pain, suffering and disability who also display suicidal behaviours (ideation, plans and attempts).

Another indication of possible co-existing mental, emotional and physical health comorbidity which should not go unnoticed.

There is much to be done to improve healthcare outcomes for people with chronic long-term illnesses and mental health challenges, but it is achievable with the right primary care interventions and community support. Policy-makers, healthcare professionals, staff and stakeholders need to be more aware of the complex dynamics of good health and work towards a sustainable integrated mental and physical health approach in primary and social care –an approach, that sees the entire person in the patient, in which they are treated with care, consideration and compassion and that emotional, social and mental health are normalised as part and parcel of all patient interfaces.

Dr Yansie Rolston FRSA is a UKbased disability and mental health specialist advisor. She is a social strategist and trainer who works internationally at various levels of government, business and civil society.

Contact her at yr@efficacyeva.

com

His best throw was his first throw of 56.53 metres, while his final attempt got him 54m.

The event was won by American Jeremy Campbell with a throw of 63.66m – a Commonwealth Record.

Today, veteran Carlos Greene and Nyoshia Cain will be the TT participants on show.

Greene will compete in the final of the men’s discus F11 while Cain will be in action in the women’s 100m T44 T43/44 first round, with the second round, and the final, also carded to take place today.

However, he is incredibly busy, as are all of his friends.

They have soccer camp and camps of every description.

I remember as a child simply being left to my own resources during the holidays.

My parents were busy people and we lived in the heart of Arima. Much of my time was spent reading, going to the library, or to the Windsor cinema, which was next door — I don’t think I ever paid. I also dressed up, wrote little plays, got my friends to act in them and, more or less, passed the time in a world of the imagination.

I dreamt and my dreams were like crystals. Dreaming is so powerful and so wonderful.

Reading is the best kind of dreaming and I often wonder whether the imaginations of children today feed as much on television and computer games as mine did on books.

But, of course, I could spend my time daydreaming because during the holidays I had so little to do that was rigidly structured.

Now there is obviously a need to supervise children.

Especially in our world that has gone so dangerously wrong. But I wonder, is there some space left to allow children the time to be bored, so that they develop self-reliance and self-motivation?I knew exactly what I wanted to do from the age of five. I was going to be a writer and my world would consist of books and the make-believe existence that literature provides.

If there is no time for the play of the imagination, then there is no space to imagine and create.

Now that parents feel obliged to monitor their children’s free time with such diligence, the ingenuity that imaginative play develops seems gone awry.

My friend Laura, who is a researcher and teacher, says that while structure is important, there needs to be a balance so that children can develop their own creative potential.

It is possible to have structured playtimes that enable the free reign of the imagination.

For example, we could have charades or dressing up.

Or we could use the device that good old Huck Finn discovered, which is to make work desirable and fun: for example, even gardening, including weeding, if done as a group activity could actually be enjoyable; or washing the car, or even painting a fence.

Then there are so many wonderful sights in Trinidad and Tobago; two of my most memorable trips were hikes through the forest to waterfalls — one in Toco near Grande Riviere, the other in Tobago.

Or maybe we could give our children a sense of God’s magnitude by just accompanying them on a trip to look at the baby turtles, since the laying season is now over. There is always the perpetual magic of Asa Wright and the sight of the humming birds will cast a permanent hue over their memories. Childhood is, after all, about storing memories for the future. Or perhaps, as parents or grandparents, we could plan a visit to the river or a river lime. Water makes reflections and shapes on its surface and stimulates artistic desire. It also helps in encouraging thought.

Many of these activities are actually done in silence, for the most part. But maybe that is another lesson that we need to learn. The thing is that children need to be allowed to disc o v e r that the w o r l d is magical and that it is the imagi – nat ion t h a t s p i n s t h e magic.

“There is nothing further to say, so you’ll have to go with whatever you have,” said TT FA director of communications Shaun Fuentes, when contacted for a comment last evening.

“The TT FA (are) unable to comment on that matter at this time.” According to the report, Morace allegedly informed the TT FA on Friday that she was leaving her post after six months, apparently over a lack of payment of salaries for herself and her assistant, English-born Australian Nicola Williams.

In January, at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, the TT FA announced a new coaching regime for the women’s team, headed by Morace, and including Williams, Elisabetta Bavagnoli and Manuela Tesse.

However, Bavagnoli and Tesse quit their roles a couple months later, while Morace and Williams have decided to leave their posts.

TT FA president David John-Williams and general secretary Justin Latapy-George were unavailable for comment yesterday.

The duo will take on the Bajan three-yearolds in the 2000 metres blue riband race at Garrison Savannah, Bridgetown, on August 1, a bank holiday in the island.

Both runners were out galloping on Sunday morning under the watchful eye of their trainers In a television interview, champion jockey Ronald “Tiger” Ali who will ride the son of Settle Upl/Blushing Sky at the Garrison said he feels good and should be suited by the Bajan track since he is quick out of the gates.

And O’Brien said his charge, a daughter of Gold Market/Katakova, she has improved over the last three to four months and seems to like turf.

He noted the filly was a bit nervy but hsas been settling down lately.

O’Brien said he has just started to train Alruna for the right hand, clockwise Bajan track .

Both horses are expected to leave here July 24, one week ahead of the big race.

Sent in to bat, the hosts, winners of the 2016 competition, were dismissed for 148 runs in 36.4 overs with Avinash Mahabirsingh topscoring with 63, off 61 balls, with 10 fours and a six.

S Gerson was the chief destroyer for the Windwards with 4/17 while G Serieux chipped in with 2/29.

Set a revised target of 147, under the Duckworth/Lewis system, the Windwards reached 149/8 in 47.2 overs, with Serieux leading the way with 54 while J Alexander was unbeaten on 22. D Auguste also struck 22 for the victors.

Mahabirsingh returned with the ball to take 3/22 and Jayden Seales 3/23.

Entering tomorrow’s final round of matches, TT have a record of three wins and one loss, while the Windwards have two wins, a loss and a no-result – similar to Barbados.

The Leeward Islands and Guyana each have two wins and two losses, while Jamaica were beaten in all four of their matches to-date.

At the National Cricket Centre, Couva, Barbados took care of the Leewards by 19 runs.

Rashawn Worrell hit the first century of the tournament – 101 (114 deliveries, 12 boundaries and one six), while N Reifer, M Forde and T Gibson each made 31, as the Bajans tallied 258/9 in their allotted 50 overs. Z White got 2/38 for the Leewards.

Despite P Miller’s 42, T Francis’ 38 and D Benta’s 32, the Leewards were only able to muster 239/9 in their 50 overs in response. R Headley did the damage with the ball with 4/44 while Forde took 2/57.

And, at the Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair, Guyana trounced Jamaica by 81 runs.

The Guyanese posted 182/4 in 50 overs and then dismissed Jamaica for 101.

Final Round Fixtures (Tuesday) – Trinidad and Tobago vs Leeward Islands, National Cricket Centre, Couva; Guyana vs Barbados, Gilbert Park, Couva; Jamaica vs Windward Islands, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba.

Sando meanwhile, celebrated their third straight win with a 2-1 come-from-behind result to move two spots up into third but level on 10 points with Jabloteh and three points adrift of leaders W Connection and North East Stars.

Jabloteh had taken the lead through well-executed strike from an unlikely source, Jevon Morris, but Akim Armstrong quickly levelled the visitors in the first half.

It was not until deep into stoppage time, however, that substitute Nical Stephens stood out the visiting hero after his cross-cumshot was spilled into the net by Jabloteh goalie Javon Sample to send Sando owner Edison “Eddie” Dean into wild celebrations.

Both sides had cancelled out each other for long periods with the exception of a couple half chances falling to Jabloteh forward Julio Noel and former San Juan Kings winger Tyrone Charles and Armstrong with ambitious attempts on the other end.

The duo though, combined on 38 minutes to level Sando when Armstrong headed past Sample off a right side Charles corner.

Jabloteh had three minutes earlier taken the lead when Morris, from the right of the area, sent a powerful drive past goalkeeper Kelvin Henry and into the far bottom corner of the Sando net following a move involving captain Damian Williams and Vurlon Mills.

Jabloteh head coach Keith Jeffrey, looking for the lead again, replaced Aaquil Campbell, Julio Noel and Jesus Perez with Jairo Lombardo, Kadeem Hutchinson and Kennedy Hinkson, all in the second half.

Lombardo, a Panamanian winger, had the best effort for Jabloteh when his 30-yard left footed strike flashed inches away from Henry’s top corner with 15 minutes left.

Sando though, would snatch the victory in the third and final minute of stoppage time through the ambition of Stephens.

Angus Eve had replaced Kevon Piper with the Vincentian utility player with stoppage time left and it proved a masterstroke for the Sando coach, who made earlier changes with Adan Noel and Keyon Edwards replacing Armstrong and Keron Cornwall and three times earlier should have had the go-ahead goal.

Edwards failed to make contact to Adan’s low feed across the goalmouth in the 82nd minute, and a minute later the latter saw his strike from the right brilliantly matched by a fully-stretched Sample. Edwards later returned the favour but Adan headed wide at the goalmouth.

Nevertheless, Sando celebrated a third straight win, while Defence Force and Morvant Caledonia United remain winless in five, with their latest a goalless draw down at the Larry Gomes Stadium on Saturday.

The Pro League will break next weekend, on the request of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), to allow for the national team’s preparation for a July 26 international friendly against Ecuador in Guayaquil.

Pro League action will, however, resume on the weekend of July 28-29.

The flight attendant was detained by officers of the Airport Security and later handed over to officers of the Piarco Police Station. Officers carried out a search of the woman’s home but nothing illegal was found.

Up until late yesterday the woman was being quizzed by police. She is expected to be charged with possession of ammunition.

News of his death sent shock waves through the entertainment industry and country, with many on social media lamenting the fragility of life. Matthews collapsed, backstage, after performing at the event at St Mary’s College Grounds around midnight. He was rushed to St Clair Medical Centre where he was pronounced dead. It is believed he died of a heart attack. A post-mortem is expected to be done today.

Dean Ackin, Tribe’s band leader and co-founder, told Newsday, Matthews and Shot Master J were scheduled to come on at 11 pm.

Matthews, he said, performed for approximately 35 to 45 minutes and was taken to St Clair at approximately 11.50 pm.

“Initial reports is that he told Shot Master J, his DJ, when they arrived at venue that he had some chest pains, almost like acid reflux. But he still went on stage later on in the night. While on stage he told some of the persons on stage with him, he was feeling a bit warm and was sweating. He wanted to come off stage for a short while.

“I think Blaze took over the mic at that point in time and Devon went backstage and sat on a chair. I think within a couple minutes of sitting down, he collapsed and fell off the chair but there were people around.

The Fire Services were positioned backstage and they immediately came to his assistance,” Ackin said recalling what happened.

He described Matthews as part of the Tribe family, as he perfomed at many of band’s events. Ackin added that he was very talented and a rising star.

Matthews placed third in this year’s Soca Monarch competition with the song, D Journey (Make It) done collaboratively with Ella Andall.

Many fans posted to his Face- Book wall, in disbelief, as news of his passing spread on social media.

He was in the soca arena for more than a decade. Red96.7fm also sent condolences to Matthews’ family and friends, saying he was pivotal in making it the premier urban radio station in the country. Two days ago, Matthews, on his Instagram page, Drealdev, was seen practising fire breathing. Beneath the post he wrote, “One life to live and I’m goona live it. That moment when you like wta you doing and a voice in your head says dawg you have a #beard now.” When Newsday visited Devon’s Santa Rosa home, yesterday, relatives were already making preparations for his ‘wake’. The home was busy with relatives and friends coming to mourn and support each other. At the time of the interview, his mom, Gloria Matthews, was occupied.

His cousin Clive Alvarez who spoke on behalf of the family, said that the one-year anniversary of the death of Devon’s father, Selwyn Matthews, was remembered on June 10 last month. “The wounds are pretty much fresh still. His mother is still trying to come to terms with the news and the fact that Devon is with us no more.” According to Alvarez, Devon went to work at the Tribe Band Launch on Saturday night and it was some time after midnight, that he complained of having chest pains.

The ambulance was contacted and he was taken to St Clair Medical Centre, where he died.

When asked what was the cause of his death, Alvarez said, “Still to be ascertained but preliminary imformation thus far, suggest that he died from a heart attack.” Alvarez noted, that during the daytime on Saturday, Devon was working on getting footage for videos to be used for the upcoming Carnival season. He said, “I won’t be surprised if someone still uses the footage and releases it.” On January 17 of this year, Devon Matthews, Music Producer Anson Soverall and radio station Red 96.7FM, won the first copyright infringement case based on music in this jurisdiction.

The case involved Full Blown Entertainment Company Ltd directors Kevon and Kory Hart who filed legal action against Matthews, Soverall and the radio station.

Matthews was also managed by the Ground Empire company run by Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez and Ian “Bunji Garlin” Alvarez. Lyons-Alvarez told Newsday, “He was part of the Ground Empire family. We managed him…He was just in Orlando with us, performing for people.

We got such great acceptance from everyone. “This is not just the loss of a talented artiste that TT was about to discover but a genuinely nice, pleasant human being. That was always fun to be around. I know he just lost his dad and condolences to his mother who now has to deal with this too.” Tribe posted on its FaceBook Page, “The TRIBE family joins the rest of the nation in mourning the sudden passing of DJ, Soca Artist and cultural advocate Devon Matthews.

We offer sincere condolences to his family, friends and fans. The entertainment and cultural sector has lost a strong, versatile talent whose star was on the rise. He will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace.” Matthews is also expected to be honoured for his contribution to culture at next month’s Arima Fest celebrations. A release yesterday said, “Mayor of Arima Lisa Morris- Julian and the Arima Borough Council will press ahead with plans to honour the contribution of the late Soca Artiste and Radio Host Devon Matthews by nominating him for a civic award at next month’s Arima Fest celebrations. During a meeting last week, members of the council decided that Matthews stood as a suitable nominee due to his consistent positive contributions to the arts and culture. The council was pleased to be among those within the borough who celebrated his third place achievement at the International Soca Monarch. Today, the council bitterly mourns his passing and it extends sincere condolences to his loved ones.” Matthews was an only child and leaves to mourn his mother, Gloria Matthews.

The pair was able to card an amazing net score of 15-under-par 56 in the Two Ball Better Ball event, to win by four shots over the teams of Dave Rajkumar and Johannson Singh (second) and George Bleasdell and Solaiman Juman (third).

Jagessar and Kublalsingh also won the tournament in 2014, with Singh finishing in second place (with Arjune Samlal) and Bleasdell and Juman taking fifth on that occasion.

This annual event, which seeks to promote networking among the TT CA’s local and regional partners while assisting local charities, hosted a full complement of 44 teams and participants and included former West Indies cricketer Dwayne Smith and his compatriot Sean Edey, as well as Anderson Payne and Chris Pitt from Barbados who are long-standing supporters of the event.

It was a great day of competitive golf followed by a wonderful prize-giving ceremony. Ramlogan Roopnarinesingh, president of the TT CA, in his address, expressed his gratitude to the major sponsors, Lifetime Motors, Lifetime Solutions, Caribbean Airlines, Royal Westmoreland, TCL, Suriname Airways and Fatboy Coconut Water.

The beneficiary of this year’s event was the Lady Hochoy Home in Gasparillo which caters for the needs of approximately 160 children and young people with a variety of disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome and physical and intellectual challenges.

Funds will go towards the construction an Early Intervention Centre.

In addition to the monetary donation from the Association, presentations were also made to the Home’s representative, Sr. Antoinette, by TT CA members, Abel Building Solutions and Coosal’s Group of Companies.

The Contractors Association looks forward to hosting the event once again in 2018, which will not only be the 10th anniversary of the tournament, but will also be the 50th anniversary of the Association.