Meet Sharline Cordner

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sharline Cordner. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sharline below.

Sharline, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I am Sharline Cordner. My Resilience comes from a summary of challenges, so my faith, humility, service toankind and determination of ‘keep going no matter what comes’ and lived experience, which I view as ‘fertilizer or manure for growth’, I love nature and greenery, one of my hobbies displaying my healthy plants in bloom, inspite of dry season, lack of nurturing or even too much water 😆.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Sharline Cordner is a Domestic Violence Survivor, Lived Experience Advocate for Mental Health, Founder/President of Mental Health Reality Wellness Trinidad and Tobago NPO, GMHPN Country Lead Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the Fmr Chairperson GMHPN America’s Region. Humble individual, Mother of one, grandmother of two and strong believer in my Faith in God has shaped me into walking in purpose as ‘Circumstances make me Who I am’ .
Surviving my near death experience, with an abusive partner, as a result, I was thrown into a single parent role, totally unprepared. However, I stood and continue to do my best.
I worked in the Corporate Sector for over thirty three years, and with no warning, I was retrenched from my so called secure seat of Administrative Career overnight by a whatsapp message along with over 200 plus of my former work colleagues, temporarily paralyzed and unsure of which order to place my steps in, prayers. Supplication and Obedience in Faith took me head on guided purpose of Lived Experience Advocacy in Mental Health; My son was injured in the Line of Duty in my country, diagnosed with PTSD, cast aside and unresolved to today’s date, and our lives again turned upside down, however this is where the NPO Mental Health Reality Wellness Trinidad and Tobago was birthed as a direct result of all these negative issues,divinely channelled into positive energy, growth and speaking up for both the affected and families with mental health illness and challenges , as we continue ‘ To actively educate, advocate and restore whilst getting to the heart of the matter ‘ our mission statement.
Our Organization is based in the virtual platform of IG, FB and our website.
We provide solutions with our presentations, webinars, community outreach, Career Development with schools and crisis calls as first responders then referrals to the professionals, as we work from both the Lived Experience and Clinical perspective on Mental Health.
Most exciting for me is the experience of Career Development with our National Airline 2024, interacting and launch of our ‘Reality Wellness Program with students, teachers and guidance officers, from Secondary schools throughout Trinidad and Tobago with an estimated count of over 10,000, over a three day span and hearing students review of speaking of mental health as a career choice , as well as volunteering with MHRWTT.
My presentation in Boston at ‘This is my Brave’ hosted by Flourishing Families Network.
Currently we are in the planning stages of starting our Youth Development Arm and conversations on collaboration with prospective Corporate Companies.
‘World Mental Health Day October 10 2025’
Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace one Day Workshop ‘ in progress.
#RealityWellness.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey

Continuous Learning / Professional Development – Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification

Attending and hosting Peer Group Sessions, Webinars, Presentations. Attendance and participation in PCUN 17th and 18th World Psychology Day.

Commitment to Volunteerism and Servitude. Humility, Confidentiality, Integrity, Willingness to learn even though you are a leader.

My advice is to always believe in yourself, even though your dream, passion seems unattainable, keep going no matter how tough the journey seems.
My personal quote ‘Listen to what is not being said’ in all communication.
I continue to walk in my Gideon Boots, Learning as I go along.
In all things I Give Thanks, even in the season of not enough, I am Grateful and Thankful.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

My mother Olney Cordner, I looked on at her approach to life challenges and followed her pattern, Lived Experience.
My father died when I was five years old, leaving my mother to raise six (6) children , she was a stay at home mother with a correspondence London Certification in Design and Dressmaking.
Had to find her way in the deep waters, with prayers, commitment, hard work and dedication to her family .
She worked in many design shops, as well as designed and made hand beaded bridal gowns, the community seamstress and adult night tutor, all of this
started as a result of the sudden passing of our father, her husband.
Always worked tirelessly, professionally and with a big kind heart, even when some customers for school children couldn’t afford it, she still did their work without sharing with anyone.
Need I say more of the example set for my siblings and I.
Again, confidentiality, integrity, humility, discipline, unconditional love, all this set the foundation of my journey to where I lead in the capacity of a Global Lived Experience Advocate in Mental Health.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: IG #MHRWTT
• Facebook: @MHRealityWellness TT

Image Credits

Mrs Olney Cordner
Pastor Bridget Israel
Mr. Cordell Cordner
Mr Roger Primus
Mrs. Patsy Bompart-Primus
Mr Garth Stewart
Ms Debra Contaste
Mr. Kerwyn Adams
Ms Dhwayne Parris
Ms Rene Byer
Mr. Barrett Cordner
Ms Rowena Rousseau
Ms Denielle Placide
Ms Iola Prieto
Caribbean Airlines Limited
St Francois Girls College
Tranquility Secondary School