MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Against the backdrop of recent suspected cases of suicide involving two high school students, principal of Manchester High Jasford Gabriel is confident that proactive measures are in place to tackle bullying and provide psychosocial support for students at that institution.

The school has a population of 1,840 students and Gabriel says it uses its resources to encourage students to be comfortable in expressing themselves and receiving the necessary support for their mental well-being.

“What we try to do is to ensure that we have an environment where we have open communication and students can feel free and feel comfortable to relate to teachers and more especially, counsellors when they are dealing with situations that might be of concern and can affect their mental health,” Gabriel said on Wednesday.

He was responding to a question posed by the Jamaica Observer regarding the school’s psychosocial activities.

In a statement on Tuesday permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education Dr Kasan Troupe called on principals to place precedence on psychosocial measures and emphasised the ministry’s determination to address mental wellness, which she described as a pressing national concern.

Troupe was responding to the two suspected cases of suicide by the students which were allegedly linked to bullying.

“The ministry is deeply concerned about the impact of bullying and the growing challenges of student mental health,” Dr Troupe said.

“As we enable our children to cope with the challenges of life, I remind our principals to prioritise the psychosocial activities in our schools, launch the psychosocial week, ensure HFLE [health and family life education] is timetabled to ensure the life skills are taught, emphasise the areas of conflict management, help-seeking behaviours, expand or reactivate your peer counselling programme, your parenting sessions, and your anti bullying campaign.

”Since 2022, the ministry has engaged counselling psychologists and psychotherapists to provide counselling and mental health support to students, parents and school staff, free of charge to augment the in-school counselling services. Principals are being reminded to ensure this support is accessed through the Regional Guidance Unit,” added Dr Troupe.

Gabriel said while bullying is not common at Manchester High it is not being taken for granted.

“As you can appreciate not everyone will talk and sometimes some of the issues we are not quite aware of. In this school we hardly have any case of reported bullying and it is not in an extensive way, but what we do is also facilitate 40 clubs and societies outside of the teaching and learning where students now are also engaged in different…activities,” said Gabriel.

“We make it mandatory that every student should be involved in at least two clubs and societies whether it is going to drama, 4-H, tourism, automotive, Red Cross, debating, quiz. Apart from the various sporting activities, they love that, so it gives them another outlet, so we find that there is less time for students to be engaged in things that are of no value and find that [it] helps as well,” Gabriel added.

He told the Observer, “We also have a big spiritual emphasis not only through our [Inter-school Christian Fellowship] group, but in terms of when we get together as a school and the spiritual kind of empowerment that is given to our students. We find that to be critical, so when you put all of these things together I think they really impact the health of students in a very positive way.”

The principal also credited the Manchester High graduating Class of 1973 for spending $2 million to construct a gazebo which is to be equipped with additional seating that can be utilised as wellness benches, relaxation as well as for meetings.

“Certainly especially since COVID-19 the issue of psychosocial development of our students is so very important. Sometimes students just need a break from the general routine of 40 students inside of a classroom where it can be hot and congested,” said Gabriel.

“They are also struggling with a multiplicity of issues not all of which are shared with us, so this will provide a space not only for teaching and learning, but also just for cooling out, just to chill,” added Gabriel as he argued that the gazebo is well placed.

“If you notice the relocation is very strategic, it is overlooking our basket court and the green areas on the play field and so on,” he said.

“Even before it was finished students would come here, because it is so serene. Just to clear their minds and to just to think through all that they might be going through, so this is significant in terms of the overall development of the students mentally, academically and in a psychosocial way as well,” Gabriel added.

In the meantime, Lola Fong, a member of the Class of 1973 planning committee, said the graduating class, which donated the gazebo, also conceptualised a Career Coaching Club to provide career opportunities.

“We recognise the value of giving children guidance and support, so you can make the right choices,” Fong told the Observer.

Members of the Manchester High staff, students and the Class of 1973 pose for a photo in front of the $2-million gazebo on Wednesday. (Photo: Kasey Williams)

The $2-million gazebo built by the Class of 1973 at Manchester High. (Photo: Kasey Williams)

Principal at Manchester High Jasford Gabriel speaking with the Jamaica Observer on Wednesday. (Photo: Kasey Williams)