Kingston, Jamaica — 10 March 2026
Months after Hurricane Melissa tore across Jamaica as one of the most powerful storms in the island’s recorded history, recovery efforts are expanding beyond rebuilding roads, homes and infrastructure to address another pressing challenge: the psychological impact on communities that endured the disaster.
Among those pushing for greater attention to emotional recovery is British-Jamaican community advocate Ava Brown, who has partnered with initiatives connected to the Rita Marley Foundation and the Black River Film Festival to support mental health awareness and resilience in storm-affected communities.
Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica in late October 2025 as a Category 5 system, causing widespread damage across several southern parishes. International development agencies later estimated that the storm inflicted approximately US$8.8 billion in damage — roughly 41 per cent of Jamaica’s gross domestic product — making it the costliest hurricane ever recor…
