It’s always useful when those who have suffered speak openly and honestly about their experiences for the education of others.

To borrow from the old adage: If fish come from river bottom to tell you about it, believe him.

Hence, the call by mental health patient and advocate, Mr Andre Wellington, for greater investment in the treatment of the mentally ill should carry great weight.

He tells us that, in 2000, he had a “very rough time” because of a “psychotic episode” which essentially led to loss of awareness, neglect of self-care, including baths and change of clothes, and a tendency to roam.

“I heard that I would just walk all over the place,” Mr Wellington said.

Armed with his experiences, Mr Wellington advocates authoritatively for cheaper, appropriate medication for mental ailments, and for more transitional centres to meet the needs of those who roam.

All of us see for ourselves the evidence so graphically described by Mr Wellington: “If you walk any township across Jamaica you will easily identify a significant number of mentally ill persons… You can smell the stench of urine and faeces on some of them because they haven’t been able to get a bath. They don’t have anybody to take care of them or to provide that avenue for them to get some level of care that would ensure that their human dignity is maintained.”

So, Government apart, Mr Wellington says, “Everybody has a role to play… whether through advocacy or through actual lending a hand through voluntary organisations to help bring about transformation within the community of the mentally ill.”

We know that some mental ailments lead to that most terrible of consequences, suicide. A March 2023 report from the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Senior Communications Strategist Mr Dennis Brooks tells us of a “notable increase” in suicides in recent months, mostly older men. Of 27 reported suicides between November last year and January, 23 were men with the majority over 40.

According to the report, in January this year there were 14 reported suicides, compared to three for January 2022 and 2021, and one in January 2020. Unsurprisingly, the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has triggered considerable mental health fallout, financial failure, job losses, severe physical ailments, has been cited among reasons for extremes of depression and hopelessness that could lead to suicide.

Tragically, according to the Sunday Observer, young Jamaican children are increasingly falling prey to suicidal ideas.

Many an eyebrow would have been raised by the comment from child and family therapist Dr Beverley Scott that many young children do not “understand the finality of death” and therefore may take their own lives “to teach their parents a lesson”. We think that thought may not be as far-fetched as some may think; bearing in mind religious/spiritual teaching that there is life after death.

Regardless of the whys and wherefores, it’s clear that those in charge of children, as well as relatives, friends, neighbours and associates of adults, must be ever aware of the need to show love, respect, empathy, and — perhaps most importantly of all — listen to those who may be experiencing personal crisis.

A listening ear, a kind word, could make all the difference.