Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to a letter to the editor entitled ‘Worried about mental health crisis’ published in the Jamaica Observer on December 22, 2022.

I must say how happy I am to see that more people in Jamaica are recognising the value of mental health, especially in our men. If we could journey in time to about 15 years ago we would see that much attention wasn’t given to this issue and so it has now become a crisis.

My burning concern is the gravity of the situation, though. I hope the articles published under mental health are read and understood by the public and are not seen as trivial but will serve to motivate others to take the first step towards maintaining their mental health. It’s high time that we fully scrutinise the issue and provide hope for individuals who are suffering in the dark and lonely world of mental instability.

As we prepare for a new year, each citizen of Jamaica should ensure that they include achieving mental stability as part of their resolution. Too many people are suffering because they have paid little attention to matters concerning the mind. We shouldn’t even blame those who trivialise their mental health because this has become a part of our culture. Our grandparents did it. Our parents did it. And we are making the same mistake.

I have heard of many instances in which young people have reached out to parents about negative signs concerning their mental health, and instead of addressing it, they are rebuked and chased away. What should they do? Some have no choice but to ignore how they feel because daddy and mommy knows what’s best. I can understand the reaction of some parents because they would have gone through the same scenario with their parents and it seems nothing was wrong after all. But mental health issues are real and we should stop turning a blind eye to how we feel, no matter how trivial it looks.

It is also sad to highlight that a lot of the nugatory thinking towards mental health issues stems from Christians. Those who are Christians tend to only see things through a supernatural perspective, as a result they believe that individuals who are facing mental issues are demon-oppressed. Therefore, churchgoers who experience signs that hint at a mental issue shun what they feel because they are afraid of being categorised as being touched by the devil.

Christians also go to the extreme of saying that once a person is experiencing mental issues it’s a consequence of some bad deed he or she has done. These stereotypes will only bring ruin to people and further perpetuate misconceptions about mental health issues and the impact it can have on an individual.

As the author of aforementioned letter Andre A O Wellington said, “Let us remind ourselves and the nation that there is no good health without good mental health. A person whose mind is unwell will not be able to engage his physical body well.”

Alexious Gonzales

lexious.gonz@gmail.com