Mental Health - Greater Belize Media

Gayla Lopez’s Story: From Pageant Stage to Healing Pages

Back in 1988, she wore the crown, the sash, and the smile that lit up a nation, Gayla Lopez, Belize’s Queen of the Bay. But what if I told you that was just the beginning of her story? Today, we’re turning the page on a journey that’s far deeper than pageantry. From the grace of the stage to the quiet power of a journal, Gayla has transformed her platform into a mission: helping others heal, grow, and express themselves through creativity and reflection. It’s a story of elegance, empathy, and emotional empowerment, and it’s all coming up in this week’s inspiring edition of The Bright Side.

Sabreena Daly, Reporting

She was just a young woman in 1988 poised, graceful, and full of promise when she stepped into the national spotlight as Belize’s Queen of the Bay. Her name? Gayla Lopez. The crown and sash made her a symbol of pride for an entire country, but that moment was only the beginning.

Gayla Lopez, Mental Health Advocate

“Queen of the Bay, back then, in my days, it had a lot to do with your elegance, your poise, your grace, your intellect, how intelligent you were, because we did have to answer questions. Um, but a lot to do with your grace, your elegance, your beauty, your poise, and um. That was pretty much a scene then 37 years ago.”

Times have changed and so has the crown. Gayla Lopez has watched the evolution of the pageant with pride—where today’s contestants are not just symbols of grace, but voices for change, championing causes and stepping into advocacy roles.

Gayla Lopez

“It gives you a sense of pride, you know, to be a part of history, to be, it’s a part of our heritage. Like I said, queen of the Bay is just something that’s, um, kind of embedded, you know, so it does, it brings a smile to your face.”

For Gayla, that pride also planted the seeds for something deeper, a journey of healing and self-discovery that led her to help others, beginning with children. Out of her personal journey came a powerful idea, one that’s now helping young people navigate their own emotional worlds. Inspired by her transformation, Gayla Lopez created 5 Journal, a guided tool that blends creativity with reflection.

Gayla Lopez

“I created a children’s journal called, called Five Journal. It deals with, um, children being able to recognize, to express and to embrace their emotions. It’s a way for them, because a lot of people are not able to verbalize, they can’t articulate what they’re feeling and to be able to articulate what you’re feeling, it empowers you as well, because the emotions are messengers.”

Gayla’s personal journey of healing and self-expression inspired her to use creativity as a bridge for emotional growth. Through her work, she encourages children to find their own voice, often turning to art to communicate feelings that words alone can’t capture.

Gayla Lopez

“I’ve used art as a tool, a part of my life. When I was processing my own life growing up, I resorted to art as my escape. So what I’ve done is incorporate art as a tool for children to verbalize what they’re feeling and express themselves. It’s kind of like speaking colors when words cannot.”

And while her focus initially began with children, Gayla Lopez acknowledges that her work has revealed a deeper truth—adults, too, can benefit from the resource as they learn to better understand and process their emotions.

Gayla Lopez

“Since then to now I’ve had to step back, like I said, because I recognize that adults are not able to articulate or to verbalize their own feelings, and they’re the people that I need to be able to assist children in this journey as well. So I’ve had to step back and I, so I offer sessions for adults primarily, but also for children. I think a lot of it has to do with how we were brought up as adults. We’re from different generations, so the way I was raised is very different from how my children are being raised now—or how their children will be. It’s like different stages. And I think one of the hindrances is how we often tell boys, for example, that they have to be tough—“you’re not supposed to cry.” I mean, that’s basically telling them not to feel. But they’re human beings too.”

After nearly four decades of service, reflection, and impact, Gayla Lopez sees her journey as more than personal, it’s patriotic. For her, patriotism isn’t just about waving a flag; it’s about rolling up your sleeves and doing the hard work to move your country forward.

Gayla Lopez

“For me, patriotism means love of country, right? Um, there’s lots of work that needs to be done. I try to live my life as best as possible to be patriotic. Uh, for the love of my country, but there’s, to be real honest, there’s lots of work to be done. Um, I don’t think one person can do that. You can try.”

While being a beauty queen can be an empowering experience, it’s important to remember that a title does not define your true worth. Crowns and sashes may fade with time, but the strength of your character is the crown you wear for life. That’s the real legacy—one of resilience, growth, and purpose beyond the spotlight. Looking on the Bright Side, I’m Sabreena Daly.

Belize’s Learn How to Safely Respond to Mental Health Crises

Police officers across the country are now better equipped to respond to mental health emergencies, thanks to a specialized four-day workshop that just wrapped up in Belize City. Hosted by the Ministry of Health & Wellness and the Pan American Health Organization, the training focused on crisis response, giving officers the tools and understanding they need to handle situations involving individuals in the midst of a mental health crisis. We were at the closing ceremony to hear firsthand how this training is reshaping the way officers approach these sensitive encounters. News Five’s Britney Gordon has that story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

When someone is acting out or behaving aggressively, how the police respond can literally save lives. That’s why this week, officers from the Belize Police Department took part in a special workshop focused on mental health. The objective is to learn how to handle these tough situations with care and understanding. Assistant Superintendent Jane Usher, who leads the department’s training efforts, shared some of the helpful tips she picked up during the sessions.

A.S.P. Jane Usher, Director of Training, Belize Police Department

“They also gave us coping skills, coping techniques. But what was also very relevant to us was the self-care aspect. They taught us how to deal with our own mental health, how to de-stress and then also how to deliver this so that this training can be cascaded to the larger department. So it was a very total package that they put together for us.”

The training emphasized the use of de-escalation tactics over lethal force to preserve lives and avoid unnecessary injuries. Commander of the National Policing Unit, ACP Howell Gillett, believes this training is long overdue.

A.C.P Howell Gillett, Commander, National Community Policing Unit

“Too often, as we’ve seen in the past, we are troubled by the way we treat our people who are with mental illnesses. And sometimes in the past it has been even to the loss of life. And we don’t want that. So what we learn here this week, among other things we learn about de-escalation. Our officers respond to these scenes, how we protect ourselves and protect others, but importantly, how we treat victims with mental illnesses.”

National In-Service Training Coordinator Kenroy Elijio says the key takeaway is knowing how to recognize a mental health crisis in real time — because identifying the signs early can make all the difference in how a situation unfolds.

Insp. Kenroy Elijio, National In-Service Training Coordinator

“I learned, and it was emphasized and reemphasized that there is such a thing as mental illness. It’s a real issue. It exists and for most people, what would be considered as being mentally healthy is a state of well-being. Mentally. However, there is a spectrum that we looked at, which drifts all the way from being mentally healthy, and then it shows what happens when stress is added, which then moves up to distress. And then it ends up being a mental illness. One of the other things that I took away is that most mental illnesses can be treated and people can be on their way, but the key thing is to try to address it from its early stage and definitely get to the root of the problem.”

Another key component of the workshop was the importance of self-care. Officers were informed that suicide rates within law enforcement tend to spike higher than the general population, opening officers’ eyes to the stress factors that may be impacting their mental well-being.

Sgt. Deshawn Cabral, Instructor, Belize Police Training Academy

“ What really resonates with me was the topic under stress that had to do with a stress bucket. The stress bucket was just a visual that showed us different stressors that comes into the bucket that is filled. And the coping mechanisms were holes that were placed at the bottom of the bucket. So for example, if you have financial struggles, if you have family issues, if you have problems with management at work, those would be considered the stressors. However, the holes to the bottom were the coping mechanism, what you do to release those stressors. Those were sometimes for us police officers or us to take leave. Maybe to go on a vacation, to spend quality time with our families to do anything that will allow us to relax ourselves so that we can get back on that normal contingency before we move on.”

Officers were taught to handle instances of mental health crises by taking the time to regulate their own stress levels and properly assess the situation before acting. This training is a crucial step towards ensuring that remediable situations do not end in trauma nor tragedy. Britney Gordon for News Five.

Crisis Response: Police Rethink Mental Health

When someone’s in the middle of a mental health crisis, their actions might seem erratic or even threatening, but often, it’s not about defiance. It’s about fear, confusion, or emotional pain. And how police respond in those moments can make all the difference. Tonight, we take a closer look at how the Belize Police Department is working to change the way officers handle these sensitive situations—through training, policy reform, and a renewed focus on compassion. Here’s more from News Five’s Isani Cayetano on police & mental health.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

When someone is in the middle of a mental health crisis, their behavior can seem unpredictable or even non-compliant. But often, it’s not about defiance, it’s about fear, confusion, or emotional distress. Experts say that understanding this is key. When police officers are trained to recognize the signs and respond appropriately, they can de-escalate situations safely, protecting not just the individual in crisis, but themselves and the public as well.

Dr. Karen Roberts, Pan American Health Organization

“We were having some challenges with crisis intervention and the use of force when it comes to clients with mental health conditions in the community. In addition to that, we also picked up that police officers, themselves, needed support in taking care of their own mental health.”

It’s not just about the use of force. In many cases, officers’ decisions have come under fire, especially when dealing with people who have mental health challenges. There have been troubling instances where these individuals were left vulnerable, and some say they were even taken advantage of. Back in 2020, three police officers, including Leslie Martinez and Jason Shaw, were accused of crossing a serious line. They allegedly tried to cover up an incident involving a man and a woman they found in a compromising situation. What makes this even more troubling? Both individuals reportedly suffer from mental illness, raising serious concerns about abuse of power and the treatment of vulnerable people.

Yvette Quintanilla, Mental Health Coordinator, MoHW

“We have been faced with different situations where some of our patients have been hurt and that is why we felt that it was very timely for us to update the manual in order for us to be able to train to prepare the police officers to have a better response whenever they are faced with patients who suffer from a mental illness.”

That handbook lays out exactly what officers are supposed to do when they respond to a situation involving someone with a mental illness. It’s meant to be their guide for handling these encounters with care and professionalism.

Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police

“After two decades, the mental health manual, the mental health policy for the department needs revision, a revision that requires a holistic approach. A revision that requires a concerted approach.”

With that in mind, the Belize Police Department is teaming up with the Ministry of Health & Wellness and the Pan American Health Organization to give the current policy a much-needed update. They’re working together to make sure it reflects the realities of dealing with mental health in the field.

Dr. Richard Rosado

“The revision is more than just procedural adjustments, it’s a recognition that we are moving towards a more progressive department, a department that requires a more balanced approach, that balances public safety and human dignity.”

Far too often, people living with mental illness end up behind bars when what they really need is medical care. That’s where proper training makes a big difference. When officers know how to recognize the signs, they can steer someone toward treatment instead of jail—connecting them with the help they actually need. Just a few weeks ago, Belizeans were left stunned and outraged. A fifty-seven-year-old retired nurse, Allaire McDougal, was sent to prison simply because she couldn’t pay a forty-eight-dollar bill. What made the situation even more heartbreaking? She’s living with a mental illness. For many, it was a painful reminder of how the system can fail those who need compassion—not punishment.

Yvette Quintanilla

“We teach the police officers about the mental health conditions, the signs, the symptoms, how to be able to recognize it. We also teach them de-escalation techniques, how to approach patients, how to speak with them, how to tone down a very difficult situation that, you know, it might build up into something else.”

Police officers have a responsibility to treat everyone with respect, including those living with mental health conditions. With the right training, they’re better equipped to do just that. It helps them make smart, compassionate decisions and avoid actions that could land them, or their department, in serious legal trouble.

Dr. Karen Roberts

“One of the main objectives is to be able to equip police officers with the skills to be able to de-escalate crises, while working as part of a multidisciplinary response team. So it’s not just police alone, but health has a role. We anticipate there’s going to be a role for social services and other agencies, depending on how the country defines that multidisciplinary team.”

At the end of the day, when officers respond with professionalism and compassion, everyone benefits. The person in crisis gets the help they need, families feel supported, communities stay safer, and the justice system works the way it’s supposed to. Isani Cayetano for News Five.