About Bahali

Healing the Caribbean Way — With Culture, Care, and Community

About Bahali

Healing the Caribbean Way — With Culture, Care, and Community

Who We Are

Bahali is a Caribbean-centered nonprofit dedicated to strengthening emotional well-being and reducing mental health stigma. We offer gentle, trauma-informed support, culturally grounded education, disaster recovery resources, and digital tools designed for Caribbean people — whether you live in the islands or across the global diaspora.

We serve communities that are often underserved or overlooked, making emotional support accessible to every Caribbean person, everywhere.

Our Story

Bahali was created from the belief that Caribbean people deserve emotional support that feels familiar, respectful, and culturally aligned. For generations, many of us were taught to be strong at all costs — to endure, stay quiet, push through.

While resilience is part of our heritage, silence has often left people struggling alone. Bahali exists to change this narrative through compassion, cultural wisdom, and practical tools rooted in Caribbean identity.

Healing is not only personal — it is communal. We honor the strengths and resilience of Caribbean families while offering tools and guidance that meet people where they are.

Read a Letter from the Founder

Our Founder

Hello, I am Dr. Marsha Smith, PsyD, LCSW, a clinical psychologist and clinical social worker, and the founder of Bahali. For more than 13 years, I have worked closely with individuals and families across every stage of life—supporting them through trauma, healing, and the everyday challenges that shape our emotional well-being.

My clinical experience spans trauma-informed care, family therapy, perinatal and postpartum mental health, geriatric psychology, and the deeply meaningful work of supporting survivors of military sexual trauma. These experiences have taught me not only the science of healing but also the importance of dignity, culture, and connection in every therapeutic relationship.

As a Caribbean woman, I carry the stories, strengths, and quiet struggles of our communities with me every day. I know what it feels like to grow up in a culture where we are expected to be strong, to push through, and to keep going even when the emotional weight becomes heavy. I also know how often mental health support feels distant, unfamiliar, or out of reach—especially after natural disasters or moments of deep stress.

Mission

To promote emotional well-being, reduce stigma, and support healing across Caribbean communities through accessible, culturally grounded care.

Vision

A Caribbean future where emotional support is normalized, embraced, and accessible to all, regardless of location or circumstance.

Purpose

To walk with individuals and families using trauma-informed, culturally resonant tools that honor identity and build resilience.

How We Work

Trauma-informed

We prioritize safety, compassion, and cultural respect in everything we do. Our resources are designed to reduce stigma, honor lived experiences, and support Caribbean families in healing with dignity and empowerment.

Culturally Grounded

We create tools that reflect Caribbean stories, values, and ways of healing—so support feels familiar, respectful, and accessible. We honor the languages, family structures, humor, spirituality, music, and history.

Community Centered

Bahali’s work is community-centered—built alongside the families we serve, guided by local wisdom, and rooted in the belief that healing grows strongest when we do it together. We collaborate with communities, not just serve.

Anti-Stigma

Bahali reduces mental health stigma by creating safe conversations and culturally relevant tools that make support feel normal and shame-free—using warm, natural language instead of clinical or intimidating terms.

Who We Serve

We support Caribbean individuals, families, and communities seeking connection, stability, or emotional clarity — whether home is Kingston, Port-au-Prince, Port of Spain, Nassau, Miami, Toronto, or London.

Groups served:

Individuals feeling overwhelmed or stuck
Parents, caregivers, and elders
Youth and young adults navigating identity
Families coping with conflict, loss, or change
Volunteers and community leaders

Bahali in the Community

Photo Gallery

Bahali in the Community

Photo Gallery

Moments of partnership, leadership, and community healing—shared with permission and care.

Walk With Us

Whether you’re seeking emotional support, looking to partner, or hoping to help bring healing tools to more Caribbean communities — we invite you into the Bahali family.

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