Video: “Mental Illness Does Not Discriminate”
Bermudian “Brown Suga” is currently producing a video series dubbed “My Foreign Reality,” which captures her adventures as she travels in the United Kingdom, with the latest installment titled “Mental Illness Does Not Discriminate”.
In describing the video, Brown Suga says, “This is my story and journey of healing and acceptance of growing up with a father with a mental illness. I hope to bring awareness on the manifestation of symptoms, both psychologically and behaviorally, that affects individuals.
“This documentary will highlight the abnormality of the mind, the challenges, stigma, discrimination and social isolation people and family members face. How a brain disorder can affects all ages, genders, and races.”
In the latest video, Brown Suga focuses on a homeless man in the UK suffering from mental health problems, and also draws reference to her own experiences with her father Frankie Simmons who passed away in 2013.
Brown Suga – My Foreign Reality
Brown Suga opens by saying, “I’m from the beautiful island of Bermuda. I left my home to travel. The people, places, and things are unfamiliar to me and this is my foreign reality.”
“Since living in the UK, I have had the most amazing opportunity to work in the mental health sector, working also with the homeless,” she says.
“Now, based on his outward appearance, you wouldn’t think that he is a father, that at one stage in his life he was gainfully employed as an engineer, and that he is an amazing artist, a musician. I had the privilege of meeting him on the streets of Birmingham and he gave me the opportunity to have a little chat with him.
Brown Suga adds, “This story hits very close to home, because like this individual, my father Frankie Simmons was also a very colourful character on the streets of Bermuda. He lived his life for almost 30 years like a homeless person, pushing his car up and down Parsons Road, North Shore, Friswell’s Hill, all over back of town.”
“He passed away last year, in November of 2013. Now, based on my father’s outward appearance, people didn’t know that at one stage in his life, he was a top class waiter; he was a maitre d’ at Pink Beach Hotel. He was married, a father of three beautiful kids, and a very talented artist.”
Following the passing of her father last year, Brown Suga took the time to eulogize him, explaining what it was like growing up with a father with mental illness, saying she wrote it to “educate rather than discriminate.”
Screencap from the video:
Drawing reference to her own experiences with her father and those she is experiencing overseas, she said: “Which brings me back to my initial story of JT, a man I met in Birmingham living in an organization that provides housing-related support services to males with mental health conditions.
“His life story is almost a replica of my father’s. He is a victim of mental illness stigma, experiencing discrimination from employers, total strangers, and even family members.”
The video goes on to describe the many hardships that JT and other sufferers of mental health problems face in their day-to-day lives, casting a focus on a group that is often marginalized by society at large.
To follow Brown Suga’s “My Foreign Reality” series, click here to visit her YouTube page.
I always saw him on the side of the road sweeping or tidying stuff up. He always seemed pleasant. I don’t know him at all, but he lived the life of an ascetic, and I hope him the best in the life to come! Sometimes the people who look run down or dirty or whatever people may call them, are actually far more righteous inside than the rest of us who look clean, employed well, and wealthy.
I knew your father he always treated me with respect before and after his illness thank you for shining a light on this subject
Brown Suga – Very nice thanks for sharing and giving facts that would help us all see and not judge. Great talent. I use to see your father all the time I actually miss seeing him. I would park my car and see his cart and know he was close by. In the afternoons I would see the road tidy and see him on the side. I was sad to know that he had passed. Thanks again
Very powerful video and thank’s for this story Bernews, Dr.Frankie as I called him, along with many of my good friends from the street gone on, we salute you, Queen Bee, Humpfrey, Pops, Big Yella, Alan D, and the un-named.
Anyone from Glebe road area knows Frankie. No matter how far gone he would appear, he would always recognize me and ask how my Mom was. God bless him… Truly A wonderful person.
Having been raised in Gleb Road area my self I’ve always seen and spoken to him but never know his past and how he got to that state. I’m glad his daughter shared who he was before he got to this stage.
I miss my mate! I know he is livin it up in heaven! Rest with god good friend.
I met Frankie in 1998. Always saw him on my way walking to work. We became good friends. He was good people. He did a better job of tidying up the roads debris then the people that get paid for ir. Always said they should have put him on W&E payroll. I miss my dear friend!! Keep up the good work Brown Suga!!!
I was priveldges to have known your father from the time that he was ‘HANDSOME Frankie’ who always hooked us up because he was the man in charge at the hotel. We would brag that we knew him! Your father looked damn well in a suit chile! lol . As he went through his mental phase, he still remained a gentleman. ..and so the tables turned and it was my turn to repay all the hook ups from back in the day! I would buy him whatever he wanted, because his grnerousity and his spirit,, and his Hook Ups back in the day, are now a part of my sweet memories of a time when Bermuda was such a wonderful place to live and tourism thrived because of people in the hotels such as your dad,