Julie Charles
Social Activist and Radio Host, Ms. Julie Charles has taken her quest to create widespread suicide awareness to another level. The award winning Kittitian social activist, radio host and volunteer extraordinaire’s informative and captivating article “Suicide-Caribbean Family Secret” is reaching a regional and international audience as it is published in the January 2015 Issue of SHE Caribbean Magazine.
The article recounts Ms. Charles’ younger brother’s suicide. The article takes the reader into the life of a family who has been touched by the tragedy of suicide. According to Ms. Charles, suicide is a topic that is often misunderstood. She said that it is also a topic that is taboo within Kittitian, West Indian and many international cultures and societies.
In the article Ms. Charles said, “I chose to share this experience because we especially in the Caribbean are not always able or willing to see the persons who are sad or depressed around us. Often times, these people are part of our own families and we don’t see the pain they are going through because they are skilful at covering up their pain. They laugh and joke with us and meanwhile they are disappearing on the inside. We figure oh they are going through troubles but let us mind our business. We don’t pay attention to things like suicide because we don’t see it as part of our society’s norms and pass it as just an abnormal occurrence.”
She continued, “It is the general thinking that suicide is done by crazy people and those who are not crazy but having these thoughts would be willing to ask for help. But they will not always ask for help because sometimes they just don’t know how to. It is my belief that we were all put here on this beautiful earth to help our neighbours. Our neighbours are not just the people we live next to but those we come in contact with. So whenever you can, try your very best to touch someone’s life with a kind word or deed. You never know, that gesture may save that person from taking their own life because they realise that there is someone who actually cares.”
Since 2000, Ms. Charles has invested considerable effort to social issues affecting women, childhood, and adolescence; beginning with the start of a Big Sister Program in the Basseterre High School in 2000, which peered young professional women with troubled teenage girls to peer counseling. Facilitating such topics as Teen Sexuality, Choice, Conflict Resolution, Self Esteem and Self Confidence, Parenting Skills, How to prepare for a job interview to both teens and parents continues to be Julie’s passion. As a journalist, Julie created articles such as Legacy, Purpose, Happiness, and Choices; with local, regional, and international readership. Ms. Charles is the Host of a popular radio talk show, Mind, Body and Soul which airs on Sunday evenings at 6: 00p.m. on Freedom Radio.
Ms. Charles, the daughter of Ms. Cynthia Charles and mother of Jayden Charles continued, “I view it as my life’s calling to spread joy and positivity and alleviate the suffering of my fellow men. It is my hope that this article will alleviate the suffering of families, prevent another from taking his or her life and start the much needed dialogue on the issue of suicide. I am grateful that SHE Caribbean Magazine considers the issue of suicide, one that is ripe for discussion within the diaspora and has provided me with a platform from which I may continue to create awareness.”
SHE Caribbean Magazine is the only magazine created and published in the Caribbean for women of the Caribbean. Since its inception in September 1998 SHE Caribbean has developed into a highly respected international women’s magazine. SHE Caribbean is distributed in the UK, the USA and also in thirty other countries.