KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, has urged Jamaicans to check in with their family and friends about their mental wellness while accessing the available mental health services in and outside of the public health system.

“My call is for every single Jamaican to stop, to think, to look around their environment in order to see what is happening with their loved ones, with their friends, to offer support where they can; and where they can’t, to seek support from the public health system, through faith-based groups, through other safe spaces and safe persons. It is going to take each of us to address the mental health challenge,” he said.

The minister’s encouragement comes in the wake of reports of several suicides on the island and an increase in the number of calls to the ministry’s Mental Health and Wellness’ Suicide Prevention Helpline (888-NEW-LIFE, that is 888-639-5433) last month. There were 633 calls to the line. Dr Tufton’s comments also come on the heels of his participation at the fourth High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of NCDs and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness says it continues to progress work to enhance the island’s mental health service.

“Those efforts include the ongoing sensitisation of the health team to enable early diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues,” it said.

It highlighted that just over a month ago, a group of 47 non-psychiatric healthcare workers were provided training under the World Health Organization (WHO) Mental Health Gap Action Programme which exposes team members to the various manifestations of mental disorders, including depression. Another group of workers is to be trained in the coming months.

Also, the School Mental Health Literacy Programme will resume in schools in November, the ministry said.

“With guidance counsellors as the main facilitators, the programme will offer students the chance to enhance their awareness about mental health conditions and coping strategies, toward stigma reduction and improved mental health-seeking behaviours.

“At the community level, we are continuing the deployment of Problem Management Plus providers to offer support services for persons experiencing mild emotional distress or who are faced with adverse challenges, including relationship issues, workplace issues, etc. We currently have some 45 active providers in the field,” Tufton said.

“We continue to operate our public mental health clinics of which there are more than 150 that cater to adults and more than 20 to children and adolescents islandwide,” Tufton added.

In addition to the 888 NEW LIFE helpline, there is also the ministry’s U-Matter Chatline, operated by the National Council on Drug Abuse, which caters to persons 16 to 24 years old. To access that chatline, youth should text the word SUPPORT to 876-838-4897, or via Instagram and Facebook Messenger @ureportjamaica. Persons in need of mental health support associated with substance use can also call 876-564-HELP, that is, 876-564-4357.