Final 2017 Queen contestant launched

Romain was launched last weekend. Photo: Zaimis Olmos Visual Arts

Members of the public, on Saturday, witnessed the launching of the final contestant vying for the title of Miss Dominica 2017.

Jade Romain of Gutter Village was launched at the Pottersville Savannah and is being sponsored by the National Co-operative Credit Union (NCCU).

While addressing the launching ceremony she revealed that her mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia, a condition she continues to struggle with, hence she decided to focus her platform on mental illness.

Romain mentioned also that her mother wanted a good life for her and beseeched her to take her studies very seriously.

“I am proud to say that her efforts were not in vain,” Romain said.

According to her, despite the chronic and long-term nature of some mental disorders, with the proper treatment people suffering from mental disorders can live productive lives and be a vital part of their communities.

“Over 85 percent of people with schizophrenia can be free of relapses at the end of one year of treatment with anti-psychotic drugs combined with family intervention,” she explained. “Up to 60 percent of people with depression can recover with the proper combination of anti-depression drugs and psychotherapy…”

She noted that a lack of urgency, missinformation and competing demands is blinding policy makers from taking a stalk of a situation where mental disorders figure among the leading causes of disease and disabilities in the world.

“Currently more than 40 percent of countries have no mental health policy and over 30 percent have no mental health programme,” Romain stated.
“Around 24 percent of countries have no mental health legislation, this is why I have selected mental illness as my platform because though this issue is blatantly glaring us in the face we pointedly choose to close our eyes and pretend like it doesn’t exist or it’s not that serious.”

Romain stated further that it is not only to discuss mental illness but to work together towards improving mental health care and reducing stigmatization of the mentally ill in Dominica.

She believes that good education is a key way of creating yet a better future.

“Once you remain focus and work very hard success is possible no matter your circumstances,” she advised.

Meantime, Romain pointed out that her sponsor NCCU has played an instrumental role in molding her.

She thanked the organization for their support as well as her family and other members the Gutter Community.

Romain is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Accounting at the University of the West Indies (UWI). In the future, she hopes to become a Chief Financial Officer.

The National Queen Show is carded for February 24, 2017.

Displaying jade launching 3.jpg

 

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

10 Comments

  1. Zandoli
    December 15, 2016

    You mean they could not find s better setting for the photo than the bed of a pickup truck?

    • Ikr
      December 17, 2016

      Petty much? Isn’t that how all pageant participants and the eventual winners parade? Besides the truck is beautifully decorated.

  2. Colleague
    December 15, 2016

    Hi Jade, your NCCU colleagues are with you all the way to Victory. “We want that crown !!!!”

  3. syncronize
    December 15, 2016

    You looked amazing, you were glorious, and fabulous, but most of all you created a greater awareness for mental illness, your facts were taunting and left me in awe that this area of illness has really been totally neglected; with more attention we could lesson the scourge, and lessen the discernment that this illness cannot be cured. Go girl for it am 100% behind you

  4. The Truth Be Told
    December 14, 2016

    I wish you good luck! She looks self-confident.
    You are a young lady and so your mother must be still young. May she receive help for her illness and be cured.
    The problem is, D/ca does not have that type of help.
    From what I know about this illness, it is a fear of something, as also being out in crowds. Something brought it on.
    Where I reside, some people fear crossing the streets, taking elevators, escalators and so on. As a form of therapy and healing, the psychiatrist/counselor would take them to those places to help them get over their fear.
    Most people know the meaning of schizophrenia. It can always be looked up.
    It is a psychiatric disorder with symptoms of withdrawal into self – a severe psychiatric disorder with symptoms of emotional instability, detachment from reality, and withdrawal into the self.
    This illness could be cured. As I have stated, Dominica is in need of psychiatrists and counselors to help these people.

  5. Ikr
    December 14, 2016

    Your life story is so encouraging and so motivating…keep on working hard to achieve your goals…All the best.

  6. public speaking collegue
    December 14, 2016

    My queen. praying for your success.

  7. December 14, 2016

    Good luck!

  8. Mrs D
    December 14, 2016

    I applaud u for that.. being very supportive of your mother. Some people don’t tend to realize that it’s a mental illness- they did not ask to be this way. By coming out and recognizing and pointing out this mental illness is a very good thing.

  9. marie-claire
    December 14, 2016

    Sure an amazing young lady she is going is going all the way. Continued sucess and all the best my dear

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available