Mental health awareness push

MANDEVILLE, Manchester — As Jamaica observes Mental Health Week, a host of activities are being staged in the southern region to raise awareness and promote emotional well-being. Dr Kevin Goulbourne, director of mental health and substance abuse services in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and Dr Melissa Flinch, medical doctor and mental health advocate, told the Jamaica Observer that the week of activities will culminate on Friday with a Mental Wellness in the Park event at Brooks Park in Mandeville. “For Friday’s event patrons can get screening for mental health issues like depression, anxiety, but also they can get assessment for physical illness,” Goulbourne said Wednesday on the sidelines of a National Mental Health Conference in Mandeville. The Mental Health Week of activities is being hosted under the theme ‘Lived experiences heard: Real voices, real change’. “For this Mental Health Week, now more than ever, we have to embrace that we are not alone. Life has a way of throwing a lot at us, even without acknowledging how much we are already dealing with. Moments like these allow us to pause to remember that resilience is a skill that has to be developed overtime and that support is built by making sure we reach into the various groups that are around us,” Flinch said in reference to the Lions Club of Mandeville. The service club on Wednesday hosted its appreciation awards for the annual Men Who Cook event. “We all experience mental health challenges. Anxiety and depression affects all of us, whether or not it is happening enough for it to become clinical stapled as one of the things we deal more chronically,” added Flinch. Meanwhile, Goulbourne admitted that there are resource challenges hampering the response to mental health support in communities where there is a need for an immediate response. “We have been responding to most of those emergencies…[but] it is not at the level that we want… Sometimes there aren’t enough vehicles and/or staff to respond in a timely fashion, but as much as possible we respond to the psychiatric emergencies,” he said. Goulbourne also called on the media to be cautious in reporting on suicides to prevent copycat scenarios. “If responsible media reporting is not done then it may cause a negative response. When you speak about persons who died by suicide [don’t] give the details of how it was done, because it may give an idea to persons who may be contemplating it. Try to end the [report] by making persons know that there is help available,” he said in reference to the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Helpline 888-639-5433. “We are making sure our services are accessible. We have our helpline, which is a 24/7 service manned by psychologists, where persons who have emergencies and emotional distress can call and get assistance,” added Goulbourne as he pointed out that counselling is also readily available at clinics islandwide. “We have been trying to sensitise the public in general to actually listen to each other, because sometimes people who are contemplating suicide may start with a small issue. If we have a community where persons are able to listen to each other more ...persons wouldn’t escalate to the point of feeling hopeless and helpless and wanting to hurt themselves,” Goulbourne said. He also issued a reminder to relatives and caregivers of people with mental challenges to maintain the prescribed dosage of medication to them. “Ensure that the person is on their treatment, because sometimes what people do is allow their relatives to miss their appointment, not taking tablets, and watching to see if they will remain okay. That is not ideal. You have to maintain your treatment and maintain your appointments,” added Goulbourne.