Basil Jarrett | Changing the mental health narrative: Practical steps for a healthier Jamaica

FOR THE last two weeks, I have been decrying the state of mental health care in Jamaica, complaining heavily that the subject alone has been wrapped in a thick layer of stigma, ignorance, and misunderstanding for far too long. It is a topic that is talked about in hushed tones, usually in the aftermath of a tragedy like a murder, suicide or a murder-suicide event. And while awareness around these issues has improved in recent years, we still focus far too narrowly on stress management and suicide prevention, leading us to overlook or downplay the less insidious impact of issues such as anxiety, depression and personality disorders.

The conversation must be broadened if we are to take steps to change the way mental health is viewed in Jamaica, and transition to a point where mental health care is normalised and treated the same way we treat physical health. To get here, though, a few critical steps must be taken.

TEACH MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS

The first, as with most things, is to start with education. If we truly want to change the narrative, we must start with the next generation. Jamaica’s education system places tremendous importance on the three Rs of reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmatic, but mental health literacy is practically non-existent in our schools. This needs to change. Mental health awareness and human psychology should be made a core part of the school curriculum, right there alongside other soft subjects such as civics.

Imagine, for instance, a school system where children learn not just about physical wellness, but emotional and psychological well-being as well. They would be taught to identify and express their feelings, understand different mental health conditions, and develop emotional intelligence from much earlier in life. We teach children how to read, write, and solve problems. Why not teach them how to cope with stress, anxiety, and trauma? By integrating mental health education into schools, we can equip future generations with the tools they need to manage their mental well-being from an early age.

SAFE SPACES

We may also need to be deliberate in creating safe spaces for discussions around mental health. Jamaican culture is known for its emphasis on resilience. We pride ourselves on being tough, able to “tek bad tings mek joke”, and brush off hardship because, well, “man a badman”. But this cultural attitude often means that we dismiss or ignore the signs of mental health struggles until they spiral out of control.

To break this cycle, we need to create safe spaces, both physical and emotional, where people can talk about their mental health without fear of judgement. Workplaces, churches, community centres, and homes should be safe spaces where people feel comfortable discussing their mental health. Just last week, after publishing two consecutive articles on this topic, a staff member looked at me with concern, asking if I’m OK and if I need someone to talk to, since I’ve been “writing so much about this stuff”. See what I mean?

Employers should also encourage staff to take mental health days, and even provide access to counselling services ,where necessary. Didn’t we learn this from COVID? Churches, too, should look to incorporate mental health care right there alongside their spiritual well-being and outreach programmes, ensuring that mental, emotional and spiritual health become the new ‘holy trinity’. These safe spaces can allow people to seek help before their struggles become overwhelming.

We must also broaden the focus of public education campaigns to address the full spectrum of mental health disorders. This means using the media, social platforms, and traditional forms of communication to educate people about conditions like borderline personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and PTSD. When the public understands that mental health is not just about stress or suicide, they will be more likely to recognise the signs of trouble and seek help sooner.

AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE MENTAL HEALTH CARE

Another key barrier is the cost and accessibility of mental health care in Jamaica. Even for those who want help, the cost of therapy or psychiatric treatment can be prohibitive, especially when there are more daily competing bread-and-butter issues to contend with. Here, the private sector must be encouraged to step up and make mental health care more accessible to the average Jamaican.

One way to do this is through government subsidies or insurance coverage for mental health services. Just as we subsidise medications for diabetes or hypertension, we should do the same for counselling sessions and low-level medication for the more benign mental health conditions. Additionally, we need more community-based mental health services, especially in rural areas where access is even more limited.

Perhaps, too, we need more trained and qualified mental health professionals such as social workers and counsellors, so that people have more entry points to care. Not every case requires a psychiatrist you know. Sometimes, a trained counsellor or psychologist is enough to help someone manage their condition. Without this, many people simply take rum for their problems and go to bed.

INTEGRATE MENTAL HEALTH INTO ROUTINE HEALTHCARE

Finally, we must treat mental health care as routine as we do annual physical check-ups. Every doctor’s visit should include a mental health assessment, and clinics should have mental health professionals available to screen for conditions like anxiety, depression, or PTSD. By doing so, we make mental health care a regular part of our routine, which not only reduces stigma, but also changes the narrative as something we only consider in times of crisis. When people see mental health as a normal part of life, they are more likely to seek help early and take steps to maintain their psychological well-being.

These are all workable and actionable solutions. But where are the mental health professionals lobbying for them? The mental health community must take some of the blame for not doing a good enough job of explaining these conditions in a way that the average person can understand, and for failing to effectively lobby policymakers to prioritise its importance. But now that we know the problem, we’d be mad not to do something about it.

Major Basil Jarrett is a communications strategist and CEO of Artemis Consulting, a communications consulting firm specialising in crisis communications and reputation management. Visit him at www.thecrisismajor.com. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.