The GraceKennedy Foundation (GKF) is pleased to announce that renowned psychiatrist, Professor the Honourable Wendel Dwight Abel, OD, OJ, JP, will deliver its 2025 Annual Lecture. This highly anticipated event takes place on Wednesday, April 2, at 6:00 p.m. at the UWI Regional Headquarters in Kingston and will also be streamed live on GraceKennedy’s YouTube channel, providing viewers with thought-provoking insights from one of the region’s foremost experts in mental health and wellness.
Titled Breaking the Cycle of Childhood Trauma, the lecture will shed light on this urgent public health crisis in Jamaica. Professor Abel will examine how childhood trauma affects social, cognitive, and emotional development, leading to long-term consequences for both mental and physical health. He will also emphasize the importance of high-quality, targeted interventions in mitigating these effects and call for urgent action to address this pressing issue.
Ahead of the lecture, GKF CEO Caroline Mahfood stated, “Professor Abel’s extensive research and commitment to improving mental health care have had a profound impact on Jamaica. His extensive body of work has helped shape mental health policies across the region and we look forward to hearing his invaluable insights. His expertise and passion for mental wellness will undoubtedly inspire meaningful dialogue and help to drive positive change in how we approach mental health care.”
Professor Abel’s outstanding contributions to public awareness and advocacy in mental health have earned him national recognition, including the Order of Distinction (2007) and the Order of Jamaica (2024). He has authored and co-authored over 100 academic papers, numerous newspaper articles, and case reports for government agencies and mental health organizations.
Chairman of the GKF Board, Dr. Fred Kennedy, emphasized the growing concern around childhood trauma, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The pandemic did far more than test the limits of our health system—it exposed the serious negative undercurrents within our communities and families. Reports indicate alarmingly high rates of violence against children from both adults and peers. Even those who are not directly affected often witness violence or experience grief from the tragic deaths of loved ones.”
For over three decades, the GKF Annual Lecture Series has addressed issues of national importance, fostering critical conversations, exploring solutions, and influencing policy. Since its establishment in 1989, the series has explored topics ranging from health, education, and the environment to culture, the economy, and technology. Professor Abel joins a distinguished group of past presenters, including Professors Elsa Leo-Rhynie, Maureen Samms-Vaughn, and Anna Kasafi Perkins, as well as industry leaders such as the Honourable Douglas Orane and the Honourable Don Wehby.
The public is invited to register for the live-streamed lecture at: https://bit.ly/GKFLecture2025.
