Crash survivor battling depression

A peek at any of Sherese Brown's social media pages, and her smile on each photo is captivating enough to uplift one's mood.

But the crash survivor and wheelchair user said that behind her smile are frequent episodes of depression and thoughts of her own death.

"I am depressed and mi just want a good bawl. It's challenging for me to just be in the room laying down; and it doesn't matter what I buy for my comfort, I am still not happy. I don't even go out like that any more. My family is here with me and they do their best, but I am still not happy and I just still feel alone," she said. "It has been like this from COVID time. It hard to harbour everything in me and can't get it out, and I think before I leave Jamaica, I would like to speak with a professional and just bawl. I just want a session to cry it out," she said.

In 2014, Brown survived a terrible car crash along the New Forest main road in Manchester. The accident left her with multiple injuries, including a broken neck and collarbone, as well as severe damage to her brain, spine, abdomen and face. The 34-year-old, who is a licensed cosmetologist, said that her life has changed drastically since the incident as she has lost her independence and is unable to work.

This has lowered her even further into depression. As she fights to regain her mobility, Brown said she will be hosting a fundraiser to finance overseas therapy on May 4. The cookout will be held at Dowen Lawn in Alligator Pond, Manchester, and Brown is keeping her fingers crossed that it will be well supported. She is seeking to finance her treatment at NeuroFit 360, a physical therapy clinic in Cooper City, Florida.

"I don't sleep ... and I don't want to take the sleeping pills that I take because whenever I sleep, it's like some demonic forces are attacking me. I am scared that they might attack me and I cannot wake up, and I may die in my sleep. I am tired but I can't sleep, and even when I decide to sleep, I fight the sleep because of the dreams that I am having. I am doing therapy in Jamaica, but it's just once weekly. I was told that with proper treatment, I could walk again, so this is my aim," she said.

Brown said that she finds comfort in reading constantly, but the pain remains, despite taking medication.

"Then I just feel like I want to die, and I question God as to why I never died in the accident. I know I don't want to hurt myself, because I fear God and I love myself, so suicidal thoughts are not in it. I feel like I want to die because I am depressed, and I don't know how far it might take me and what I might do. So I am trying to snap out of it and help myself. So I am asking the wider population for help so I can get therapy overseas," Brown said.

Persons wishing to assist Sherese Brown in her recovery effort may contact her at 876-449-7190.