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<\/p>\nCreated: Jul 06, 2026 07:56 AM (Updated: Jul 06, 2026 08:52 AM)<\/p>\n
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Geovanni Hayward (Photograph by Akil Simmons)<\/p>\n
A young Bermudian who faced mental health challenges is capitalising on his determination to overcome them by establishing a sailing charity.<\/p>\n
Geovanni Hayward also said an opportunity to spend time with King Charles during the monarch\u2019s recent visit <\/a>to Bermuda was a major boost to his recovery from a mental health dilemma.<\/p>\n Mr Hayward, 27, said since childhood he faced mental health challenges, a situation that ultimately forced him to drop out of high school.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cIt was challenging. I was suffering from depression and had anxiety problems all the time. At one point I was suicidal, I was at my lowest.<\/p>\n \u201cI struggled with regulating my emotions and basically my childhood was not the best.\u201d<\/p>\n He said things went further downhill when he \u201cgot into the wrong crowd\u201d as a teenager which led to him eventually dropping out of school.<\/p>\n When his best friend died, the situation deteriorated further but Mr Hayward said his decision to follow his passion for sailing at age 16 proved helpful.<\/p>\n He enrolled in the Endeavour sailing programme and at 18, got a job with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club as a sailing coach.<\/p>\n \u201cThat helped me a lot because things became more stable, but I was still facing depression,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Over the years he tried to address his mental health challenges, but wasn\u2019t fully prepared to seek treatment.<\/p>\n Things changed last October when he decided to face his fears and enrol in a programme at Dignity House, a rehabilitation facility in Pembroke that helps people with mental health disorders.<\/p>\n \u201cI have tried other avenues in the past but they were never really helpful until I decided to visit Dignity House,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n My Hayward enrolled in the facility\u2019s Dialectical Behaviour Therapy programme.<\/p>\n Geovanni Hayward has a passion for sailing (Photograph by Akil Simmons)<\/p>\n The intensive regimen \u2014 which he completed over a two-month period \u2014 teaches participants skills to manage intense emotions, deal with challenging situations and improve relationships.<\/p>\n \u201cIt taught me how to cope,\u201d he reflected.<\/p>\n Nicholas Darceuil, a founder of Dignity House, said the facility is community based, providing \u201ceasy access\u201d for Mr Hayward.<\/p>\n Mr Darceuil explained: \u201cPersons out in the community don\u2019t want to go to an institution, they want to go to a place where they can get help where it is not a hospital setting.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were flexible and offered a variety of treatment that worked for Geovanni. The DBT programme which we specialise in helped him to accept the problems he faced and then to change.\u201d<\/p>\n While at Dignity House, Mr Hayward said once the treatment became effective, he decided to capitalise on his knowledge of sailing.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cI decided to start a charity. I know sailing is not accessible to everyone, but I thought it would be a good way to introduce young people to sailing.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783355481_595_.jpeg\")
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