Figures vary, but available statistics suggest that, in the context of the wider world, Jamaica’s suicide rate is far lower than most.

Yet, we note word from the Jamaica Constabulary Force of a worrying spike in people killing themselves just recently.

That’s despite a 16.9 per cent drop, to 44, between January and September 2025, down from 53 cases for the similar period last year.

Worry apparently started in July with eight incidents of suicide, a 33 per cent increase over July 2024; while August and September rose by 20 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively, compared with the same months last year.

The one thing we can be certain of is that, in the great majority of cases, if not all, declining mental health led to life-ending decisions.

And yet again, we are reminded of the complex nature of the problem in an increasingly difficult and challenging world.

We are struck by the warning from medical professional Dr Wayne West of the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society that people who seem outwardly happy do occasionally end up taking their own lives — a phenomenon described by him as “smiling depression”.

Said he: “[S]o someone who is [mentally] depressed may not necessarily be sad, they may be dancing and having a grand time, but hours later they have committed suicide.”

Hence his urging that mental health professionals do more to advise the rest of us regarding “the things persons may do and say that indicate that they need help”.

Clearly also, the State, through the Ministry of Health and Wellness and related agencies, should strive to keep us aware by whatever means available to them.

Portfolio minister Dr Christopher Tufton has long taken a strong interest in the matter. We welcome his latest urging for Jamaicans to check in with their family and friends about their mental wellness while accessing the available 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,” Dr Tufton is quoted as saying.

We are encouraged by the assurance from the health ministry that there is “ongoing sensitisation” of its staff “to enable early diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues”.

We are told that just over a month ago, 47 non-psychiatric staffers received training under the World Health Organization (WHO) Mental Health Gap Action Programme, which exposed them to mental disorders, including depression. Another group is to be similarly trained soon.

Also, the health ministry says a School Mental Health Literacy Programme will resume in November, “with guidance counsellors as the main facilitators”, encouraging students to support each other.

We are assured that proactive support services continue at the community level through “active providers in the field” and public mental health clinics.

We expect that as resources become more available all of those State services will increase. But, again, as Dr Tufton reminds us, we all have important roles to play.