KINGSTON, Jamaica— Kingston Mayor, Delroy Williams, has expressed support for a resolution from the St Catherine Municipal Corporation connecting increasing acts of violence to mental health challenges and that urges the government to increase funding to address the problem.

The resolution was noted at the recent council meeting of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC).

Williams asked KSAMC CEO, Robert Hill, to put a team together to discuss the resolution with the St Catherine council. He said that several of the municipalities faced street people issues that in some instances stemmed from mental health illness.

“The resolution is worthy and timely and we should put a team together for discussions with the Ministry of Health, Williams said.

The St Catherine council resolution moved by Councillor Roogae Kirlew (Mount Industry Division) urged the government to ensure that “seven strategic areas are improved and or established accordingly.”

The resolution urged the government to:

(1) Establish a comprehensive psychiatric service for early identification and care

(2) Improve mental health within Primary Health Care

(3) The provision of Mental Health Skills for all professionals

(4) Development of services for crisis intervention in the community

(5) Development of School Mental Health Programmes

(6) Development of parenting skills training

(7) Public Mental Health Education.