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 and make 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.
Our Founder
As a Caribbean woman, clinician, veteran, and community member, I created Bahali to offer the kind of support our people deserve — judgment-free, culturally aware, and grounded in dignity. Bahali is a place where Caribbean people can breathe, heal, and be heard.”
— Marsha Smith, PsyD, LCSW
Founder & Executive Director
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
We prioritize safety, trust, empowerment, and choice.
We honor Caribbean languages, family structures, humor, spirituality, music, and history.
We collaborate with communities, not just serve them.
We speak in warm, natural language that makes emotional support feel safe — not clinical or intimidating.
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:
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Individuals feeling overwhelmed or stuck
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Parents, caregivers, and elders
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Youth and young adults navigating identity
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Families coping with conflict, loss, or change
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Volunteers and community leaders
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.