Psychiatrist Dr Peta-gaye Reynolds emphasised the importance of reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide during the World Suicide Prevention Day Seminar. She urged Jamaicans to offer compassion, listen, and support those facing mental health challenges. Addressing structural stigmas and misconceptions is key to providing the care and understanding needed for mental wellness.

Psychiatrist calls for shift in mental health narratives

Reynolds urges J’cans to challenge inappropriate labels placed on individuals with suicidal thoughts

Jamaica Gleaner/11 Sep 2024/Asha Wilks/gleaner Writer 

REDUCING THE stigma around suicidal thoughts and mental health issues is a collective responsibility of society, according to psychiatrist Dr Peta-gaye Reynolds.

In a presentation at the Choose Life International 16th World Suicide Prevention Day Seminar 2024 on Tuesday, the consultant psychiatrist at the North East Regional Health Authority (NERHA) urged Jamaicans “to listen, to support and to encourage each other”.

World Suicide Prevention Day was observed on Tuesday under the theme ‘Changing The Narratives on Suicide’, with a call to action to ‘Start the Conversation’.

Stigma refers to a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that society has about a group of people, which also implies disapproval of them and can lead to discrimination and exclusion.

Reynolds stated that there are three types of stigmas – public stigma, which is the negative attitudes and views held by the public towards a group of people; self-stigma, which refers to the internalised shame and negative thoughts a person has about their own condition; and structural stigma, which involves the laws, policies, and practices in place that result in the unfair treatment of a certain group of people.

In highlighting a few examples, she noted that in Jamaica, a person who has a mental illness and commits a minor offence is less likely to get bail and would be held until a psychiatric report can be done, which could at times take years.

“So, structurally, it means that the court system also has that stigma believing that persons with mental illness are regressive and dangerous,” she said.

STRATA POLICY

Reynolds shared her personal experience, noting that she found a clause in her home’s strata policy that stated, “I will not cause or allow anyone of unsound mind to occupy these premises.”

She also observed that employers were often hesitant to hire individuals with mental illness, reflecting a stereotype that such individuals are less competent and unable to handle challenging situations or stress.

Reynolds further noted that the primary cause of stigma was society’s lack of understanding.

“A lot of times, dem think say [mental illness] is obeah ... [or] it’s a spiritual attack, it’s a demonic possession ... . Sometimes it’s believed that the reason for someone struggling or suffering with depression is because they don’t have enough faith, that they don’t believe that God going to carry them through, and that is why they are having those challenges and it’s important that we recognise that this is false,” she said.

Some people, she added, believe that mental illness is a punishment for sin, and “therefore, I don’t have any right to try and fix it or to try and do anything about it”.

“There’s a lot of fear surrounding mental illness and a lot of that comes from a lot of the inaccurate and misleading representations that come out in the media and a lot of that tends to focus on persons with mental illness being dangerous and aggressive,” Reynolds said.

She argued that society often attaches inappropriate labels to individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts or who have attempted suicide. These labels include being weak, attention-seeking, lacking in faith, and selfish.

“Persons who contemplate suicide often don’t want to die; they just don’t want to continue living in pain, and it’s our responsibility to show them a path outside of that pain, show them that they can survive, they can thrive, and that this situation is, in fact, temporary,” Reynolds said.

She encouraged Jamaicans to educate themselves about mental health and suicide, treat everyone with dignity and respect, support and uplift one another, reflect on their own attitudes, be mindful of their language, and show compassion towards those experiencing suicidal thoughts.

For feedback: contact the Editorial Department at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.