Tributes have been paid to a dedicated psychologist and mother who passed away suddenly in her sleep on Tuesday, leaving behind a two-year-old son.

Gemma Harris, who was 47, was a British clinical psychologist registered in Bermuda and Britain.

Dr Harris’s family plans to launch a fund to help support her two-year-old son, Ezra.

Since moving to Bermuda in 2012, Dr Harris made significant contributions to the island’s mental health sector, initially working for the Government and joining Solstice in 2017.

Kelly Madeiros, managing director at Solstice, a holistic wellness centre based in Hamilton, said: “Our thoughts and shared sadness are with Dr Harris’s family and friends during this difficult time.

“Her contributions to our clinic and Bermuda as a whole were invaluable. She was a dedicated psychologist who we could rely heavily on.

“She was also a beloved team member who brought compassion, integrity, honesty and warmth to everyone she worked with.”

Eloise Pitts Crick, Solstice cofounder, added: “Dr Harris’s compassionate approach to therapy and her dedication to her clients set a standard for all of us.

“Gemma’s ability to connect with people and her unwavering commitment to mental health were truly exceptional. Her legacy will live on in the work we continue to do.”

Solstice said Dr Harris was more than just a brilliant therapist, she was also a dedicated colleague who brought warmth and kindness to the workplace every day.

In a statement, Solstice said: “Her passion for helping others extended beyond her professional life, she was a loving mother to her two-year-old son, Ezra, who balanced her career and family with grace and dedication.”

Solstice will be offering support and counselling services for anyone affected by this loss.

Dr Harris had 15 years of post-qualification experience in clinical and forensic work. She specialised in adult mental health, working across in-patient and community settings.

Her integrated therapy approach combined cognitive, cognitive analytic, and compassionate mind therapy. She was particularly skilled in addressing trauma, relationship difficulties and substance misuse.

She was also a qualified and registered cognitive analytic therapy practitioner and supervisor, as well as certified in eye-movement desensitisation and reprocessing.

In 2021, Dr Harris provided mental health support to athletes competing in the Tokyo Olympic Games.

In an interview with The Royal Gazette at the time, she highlighted how the high-profile coverage of Simone Biles, an American Olympic gymnast, helped to put mental healthcare “front and centre”.

She said that owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, mental health had been given special attention that Olympic year with huge restrictions on movement, daily testing, no family or spectators, and the potential to be excluded from long-awaited competitions.

As the only psychologist in the team supporting athletes who contracted Covid-19, she counselled athletes who missed their opportunity to compete owing to a positive diagnosis.

Speaking then of the opportunity to travel to Tokyo, she said: “This is certainly one of the most exciting opportunities of my career. Being here on a world stage, mixing with international athletes and world record-breakers is pretty exciting.

“It has also been great to connect with mental health experts in this field and learn about how they work.”

• For support or inquiries, contact Solstice at info@solstice.bm