“Mi/Yuh/Wi/Dem Have Life”: Jamaican Resilience

Verol Billett
Nov 11
4 min read

Author: Verol Billett, KAHLE Team Lead for Healing

“Mi have life”

During a visit to a section of western Jamaica that was severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa, I repeatedly heard this statement from the people who are experiencing significant loss. The constant repetition got me thinking like never before about the weight of this simple phrase. “Mi have life”.

As a Jamaican, I have used this phrase many times myself but I have never given it much thought. However, having heard this phrase in such rapid frequency, a mark was made and therefore, my psychologist brain started to reflect. “Dem have life”.

In the aftermath of a crisis, tragedy, or sudden disruption in Jamaica, one phrase rises almost reflexively across communities: “Mi have life.”

This expression and its variations, is used across the entire Jamaican population. However, now, I can appreciate that it is not just a casual remark, but rather it is a verbal psychological response that is embedded in hope. This phrase to be one of the most significant indicators of how Jamaicans conceptualise survival, hope, and emotional endurance. Beneath its simplicity lies a powerful combination of acknowledgment, gratitude, grounding, and community bonding.

When Jamaicans say “mi have life,” the statement is never meant to deny the severity of what has occurred. Instead, it reflects a balanced emotional stance where there is an acknowledgment that something has gone wrong, accompanied by the stabilising reminder

that survival remains. In psychological terms, this phrase often serves as a grounding strategy, helping individuals orient themselves after exposure to stress or trauma. It creates a momentary pause that protects against emotional overwhelm, helping people to contain the immediate impact of distress.

Jamaicans are often understated when expressing emotions, including gratitude. Phrases like “give thanks,” “mi deh yah,” and “coulda worse” demonstrate this pattern of indirect expression. “Have life” fits squarely within this tradition. It captures the spirit of gratitude that says a lot without saying too much. It represents an unspoken sense of psychological resilience which I could attempt to put into words, it would probably be “As long as I have breath, I will move forward”. This subtle expression of appreciation strengthens psychological resilience and fosters hope following difficult experiences.

Jamaica’s history is marked by cycles of adversity: colonisation, enslavement, natural disasters, public health crises, economic instability, and waves of community violence. Through each period, survival has been a central concern. The phrase “have life” carries the emotional memory of this collective history. After Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, the political conflicts of the late 20th century, Hurricane Ivan in 2004, Hurricane Beryl in 2024, and more recently Hurricane Melissa, Jamaicans have leaned on this expression as a verbal reminder that survival offers a foundation for rebuilding. It functions as a historic survival code, passed down through generations, affirming that the presence of life allows for renewal.

A Mechanism for Emotional Regulation

When stressed, the human nervous system seeks stability. Many Jamaicans intuitively use “have life” as a form of emotional regulation.

The phrase:

calms the nervous system
reduces panic
narrows the focus to safety
provides a cognitive anchor when everything feels uncertain

This form of cultural resilience demonstrates how language shapes coping, even in the absence of formal psychological intervention.

One notable feature of the phrase is how naturally it shifts from the individual to the collective. Jamaicans frequently move from “mi have life” to “wi have life” when speaking about shared crises. This transition reflects Jamaica’s strong collectivist orientation and highlights the importance of community connectedness in recovery. In moments of national adversity, the phrase becomes a unifying sentiment, strengthening the social fabric and promoting collective healing.

People cope better when they can create meaning out of adversity. “Have life” offers that meaning by reframing survival as evidence of purpose and possibility.

It becomes a verbal bridge between immediate shock and the long-term task of rebuilding. In this way, the phrase encourages forward movement:

from disruption to recovery
from loss to reconstruction
from fear to anchored hope

It does not resolve the trauma, but it creates the first emotional foothold needed to begin healing.

For many Jamaicans, survival is inherently spiritual. To “have life” is to be “spared,” “kept,” or “covered by God or ancestors.” This spiritual layer reinforces the psychological impact of the phrase, offering comfort, meaning, and a sense of divine protection. Faith-based interpretations of survival contribute to greater emotional resilience and provide many Jamaicans with additional psychological support in times of distress.

Recognising the Limits of the Phrase

While the expression carries cultural strength, it can also inadvertently silence deeper emotional concerns. Phrases such as “Hush man, yuh have life” may discourage individuals from processing their grief or discussing mental health challenges openly. As much as we can encourage a sense of gratitude for life, we must make space for others to feel whatever they feel and exercise their own ability to express those feelings (in a healthy way of course).

For mental-health professionals, educators, leaders, and policymakers, it is important to honour the cultural value of the phrase while also encouraging dialogue that allows people to fully address their emotional needs.

Why This Matters for Agencies and National Recovery

Understanding the psychological meaning behind “Mi/Yuh/Wi/Dem have life” is essential for agencies involved in disaster response, social services, mental health, and community development.

This phrase reveals:

how Jamaicans naturally regulate distress
how communities mobilise after crises
where gratitude intersects with coping
how cultural expressions can guide public messaging
how survival becomes the starting point for intervention

Recognising and integrating culturally meaningful expressions into national recovery efforts can significantly improve the effectiveness of psychosocial support, community outreach, and trauma-informed communication.

Conclusion

“Mi/Yuh/Wi/Dem have life” is more than a Jamaican saying. It is a cultural psychological grounding tool, and a reflection of centuries of resilience. It is the way Jamaicans affirm survival while standing in the midst of uncertainty. It is how we collectively steady ourselves when the ground shakes or when the sky pours. It is the quiet reminder that as long as life remains, healing and rebuilding remain possible.

It is the way Jamaicans affirm survival while standing in the midst of uncertainty.

As our country continues to navigate ongoing challenges, this phrase offers not only comfort but insight. It is a reminder that resilience is not just something we aspire to; it is something deeply rooted in who we are.

Jamaica, We Rise ‘cause WI DEH YAH!