Ministry wants suicidal signs reported, immediately

KINGSTON — In light of the increase in suicide cases in Jamaica between January and May, Director of Mental Health Services and Substance Abuse in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Maureen Irons-Morgan, wants persons with significant symptoms of depression, or other mental disorders, to seek medical help, immediately.

Between January and May this year, there have been 24 reported cases of suicides, compared to 12 for the same period last year. Addressing a JIS Think Tank session Tuesday June 7, Dr. Irons-Morgan emphasized that suicide is preventable and does not occur suddenly.

“It is the result of a range of behaviours from the very beginning, of having suicidal thoughts, to having a plan, to attempt and execute successfully,” she explained. 

She noted that over 90 percent of the persons who committed suicide had a mental health problem. Fifty per cent of the diagnosed cases were clinical or major depression. Other mental health problems were schizophrenia, personality disorders and genetic factors, risk factors for suicide.

“Depression has recognised signs and symptoms and, if someone experiences these signs and symptoms or if they recognize it in other persons, it is very important to get help and get help early,” she advised.

Major triggers that often lead to this state, she noted, include conflicts, feeling of failure, humiliating events, break-ups, loss of status and loss of a job. These often plunge persons into depressive moods which, if unattended, can lead to disastrous occurrences, such as suicides.

Dr. Irons-Morgan said that most persons who commit suicide share the idea with someone. However, most persons do not deem it a medical problem and try to talk them out of it.

“Treatment is important, and getting close to the person and hearing what the person is going through is also very important but it is important, if it is significant enough in terms of symptoms, to get intervention from a doctor or mental health provider,” she stated.

For persons who may notice a change in the mental state of an individual, Dr. Irons urged that they talk to them, listen carefully and find out if they are having suicidal thoughts.

“Do not be afraid to ask somebody about suicidal thoughts. Asking them does not put the idea into their heads. It is important to ask them if they are having these thoughts and if they are, they really need to be assessed to see the level of intensity of their thoughts, whether or not they have serious plans and for the risk of suicide to be assessed,” she explained.

She noted that over the past 60 years, the government has been improving access to mental health services, by providing community-based mental health services at parish and regional levels.  

Each Regional Health Authority has a Mental Health Service, headed by a Regional Psychiatrist and staffed by Community Mental Health Officers, who are assisted by Psychiatric Aids. Mental Health Services are provided in 139 mental health clinics. Home based service is also available for persons unable to visit the public health facilities.

The Ministry of Health also offers a crisis emergency response service in each health region, where persons can contact mental health teams by phone or in person. Persons are advised to call the Ministry of Health at 967-1100 for these numbers. Persons in need of urgent help may also call the Ministry of Health Toll Free at 1-888-ONE-LOVE or 1888-663-5683. Mentally ill persons are also admitted and treated in all general hospitals in Jamaica.

“If there is a mental health crisis, people do not have to think first about Bellevue, they need to think about the nearest hospital; go the emergency room and they will be treated. If there is need for a referral from there, then that decision will be taken,” she explained.

Dr. Irons-Morgan noted that over the years, Jamaica has maintained a relatively low suicide rate of 3 to 3.1 per 100,000 of the population, far less than countries such as the USA and Trinidad and Tobago, which have rates of 12 and 11-12 per 100,000 of the population, respectively.  However, she noted that the increased cases in Jamaica are worrying.

By LATOYA PENNANT, JIS PR Officer