PM Highlights Importance of Mental Wellness

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has underscored the importance of mental health support and strong community bonds, as Jamaica recovers from the effects of Hurricane Melissa.

Speaking at a land titling ceremony at the Lacovia Community Centre in St. Elizabeth on Friday (December 12), Dr. Holness said the Government has already taken steps to address this need.

“The Minister of Health and Wellness informed me that the Ministry is making the necessary provisions and having the outreach and support,” he stated.

Dr. Holness also shared a recent encounter that highlighted the emotional toll disasters can have on individuals and families.

“[A woman] said she saw her friend, a man who she has always thought of as being strong, hardy, being able to withstand everything, and she said that when he looked at his house and all that you would have worked so hard for and see it washed out, he broke down in tears,” he said.

He noted that this story revealed the trauma many Jamaicans are facing and the need for support services.

“It was at that moment that she understood the trauma that a lot of Jamaicans are going through and the need for mental health support,” the Prime Minister said.

Dr. Holness also reflected on how community solidarity helped Jamaicans endure past hardships.

“It was the community that kept us all sane,” he said, recalling the aftermath of Hurricane Gilbert.

“Everybody gathered at night whether it was with candle or lamp, and the youngsters would tell stories, we would laugh, we would play games, and that kept us sane, kept us strong, kept us positive and optimistic,” Dr. Holness added.

He said the current challenges present an opportunity for national renewal.

“In this challenge that we now face, it is an opportunity for us to rebuild communities, not just infrastructure, but to rebuild the relationships [and] the linkages that would have kept us strong as a people,” the Prime Minister said.

He also reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to assisting Jamaicans through recovery and rebuilding.