Three years after her initial public plea for help went viral locally, a Belizean mother is once again reaching out to the community to secure life-sustaining mental health treatment for her son, Brenton Young. Bernadine Young first shared her family’s struggle with mental illness and systemic gaps in affordable care in May 2025, and on April 17, 2026, she renewed that call in a televised public appeal.
Brenton Young, who experienced a severe relapse of his mental health condition after a period of stable improvement, is currently receiving residential rehabilitation care at Jacob’s Rehabilitation Farm, a community-focused treatment facility located in Belize’s Corozal District. According to Bernadine, Brenton had been making encouraging progress before his relapse: he was able to walk independently, operated a small street vending business selling chips and biscuits, and was a well-loved figure in his local neighborhood. That progress was derailed when Brenton suffered a severe downturn, which Bernadine attributes to accidental overdose of contaminated substances inhaled by her son, a diagnosis confirmed by preliminary testing through Belize’s National Council on Drug Control (NCC). Traces of the harmful substances remain in his bloodstream, triggering ongoing psychotic episodes that leave Brenton disoriented—he often speaks of “feeding people in the book” during meals, a symptom that leaves Bernadine distraught and desperate for consistent care.
Before securing Brenton’s placement at Jacob’s Rehabilitation Farm, Bernadine says she spent months navigating fragmented local mental health services, often breaking down in tears as she struggled to understand her son’s rapidly shifting condition and find appropriate support. Now that Brenton is receiving the structured care he needs at the facility, Bernadine faces a new, insurmountable barrier: she cannot afford the $900 total monthly cost of his treatment. The facility charges a $800 monthly residential fee, plus an additional $100 for prescription medication and basic personal care supplies including toiletries and hygiene products. For a working-class family, this recurring expense is far beyond Bernadine’s means.
To streamline donations, Bernadine has asked that any financial contributions be deposited directly into Jacob’s Rehabilitation Farm’s dedicated Atlantic Bank account, numbered 1002499811. Members of the public who wish to offer additional support or ask questions can also contact Bernadine directly at phone number 667-4777.
This appeal is a transcript of an evening television news broadcast, with Kriol-language dialogue transcribed using a standard regional spelling system for clarity and accessibility.