Despite the prevalence of mental health disorders in Jamaica and around the world, the majority of citizens do not know that October 10 is observed as World Mental Health Day annually.

During World Mental Health Day there is normally increased activities centred on mental health issues. Mental health is not just about illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder. It is about how we think, feel, and cope with life. It shapes our relationships, our work, and our ambition.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), globally, one in eight people live with a mental health disorder, which amounts to over 1 billion people worldwide. Mental illness is more common than an ignorant mind would be led to believe. Here in Jamaica over 100,000 people are living with a mental health condition, with depression and anxiety disorder being the most prevalent. And there has been an increase in the number of people seeking mental health services since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are still many who shy away from seeking help because stigma remains and mental health is still often misunderstood or ignored.

We must be reminded that sickness is a legitimate part of our human experience and mental illness is just another sickness that can happen to anyone. Sickness does not discriminate, it affects all demographics. The good news for people living with mental illness is that it can be treated, managed, and controlled. Despite the stigma and negative labels, people living with mental illness can lead productive lives.

At a personal level, I have experienced the stigma surrounding mental illness first-hand, not once, not twice, but many times! However, I have never allowed the insensitivity, ignorance, and indifference of others to derail my treatment programme, neither have I allowed the negative labels and pejoratives to break me. I don’t blame God or anyone for my mental health condition. I have accepted the challenges it presents with humility and God’s grace. I tell myself that if God allowed me to develop mental illness, He will strengthen me to overcome the challenges.

I have struggled with schizophrenia and psychotic depression for almost 30 years, and while the illness has changed my life, it has not stopped me from leading a normal life. It might be hard to imagine, but after my diagnosis with mental illness I learnt to become a better person. The sickness taught me to better appreciate life and understand human frailties. It helped me to prioritise my mental health and well-being. It taught me the importance of positive thinking and faith in God. It helped me to be grounded as a good father, family man, friend, colleague, and community leader. It taught me the importance of lifting up others, particularly my brothers and sisters within the community of the mentally ill who may not be as fortunate as I am to have a strong support system and access to the better medications on the market.

Mental illness, like any other health condition, heals best when there is love and support. It demands patience, empathy, and understanding. Too often mentally ill individuals are treated with apathy and resentment, discriminated against, insulted, and even met with violence. This response only deepens our suffering and worsens our condition. If we are going to change the face of mental health in Jamaica, we must make our mental health a personal priority. Not only that, we must normalise conversations about mental health. Here are some workable tips to promote self-care and mental wellness:

1) Make stress management a daily ritual. Practice meditation and deep breathing exercises at least three times daily for 10 minutes.

2) Get at least eight hours sleep every night. Deep restorative sleep is good for brain health and mental wellness.

3) Practice journalling. Writing about our feelings and daily experiences can relax our minds and improve self-esteem. For those who are unable to write, they can record their feelings and experiences and listen to the voice notes.

4) Find a purpose or hobby to occupy some of your time. Engaging in activities that you like brings joy. Service clubs and voluntary organisations are great avenues of accommodation.

5) Seek a friend before you need one by building strong social connections. Having a support system that you can share your burdens with helps. Just talking to someone you trust is a big stress reliever. Talk therapy works!

6) Avoid drugs and alcohol. These substances negatively impact mental health. Most medication should not be taken with drugs or alcohol in your system.

7) Educate yourself about mental health issues. The more you know, the better you are able to cope with the challenges.

8) Celebrate yourself and treat yourself. Don’t be afraid to spend on yourself, and pause to recognise small achievements. You must become your own best friend and cheerleader. Believe in your own ability and bank on yourself regardless of what others are saying about you. Don’t allow negative labels and toxic individuals to lower your self-esteem and human dignity. A strong belief in self will help you overcome the pejoratives, prejudice, and discrimination linked to mental illness for over 4,000 years.

9) Be honest and open about your health challenges. There is no shame in sickness. If people don’t know what you are going through, they can’t learn how to accommodate you. It is OK to ask for help when in need. There are still good people in the world, but we must find them and endear ourselves to them. We are the sum total of the company we keep. If we surround ourselves with good people, then good things will happen to us. The same is true of the reverse.

10) Limit your time spent on social media and listen to music that you love. More importantly, develop a prayer life complemented by an appreciation for medical science. If your doctor puts you on medication, take your medication as prescribed and pray over them before you take them. But don’t listen to religious fanatics who tell you to stop taking your medication and claim “healing”. There is “miracle” in medicine!

Mental health is just as important as physical health. In the same way we watch what we feed our physical bodies we must also be mindful of what we feed our minds. The same way we seek professional help for physical ailments we must also seek professional help for mental health issues. One of the greatest challenges in health care is to get people to willingly seek and accept the services of mental health practitioners. Let us spread the word that there is no good health without good mental health.

A person whose mind is not well can’t use his/her physical body well. There is a correlation between mind and body. My almost 30 years living with schizophrenia and psychotic depression as well as my close association with mentally ill individuals have taught me that if we ignore professional help and medical science at the expense of misguided religious beliefs, our mental health journey will be catastrophic. We must complement medicine with prayer. The two can effectively coexist.

As we observe World Mental Health Day on October 10, let us give ourselves the best life we deserve by making our mental health a personal priority. Mental illness will not suddenly go away. It can’t be wished away by holy water, but with medication, prayer, and social support we can all lead productive lives.

If I may be permitted one personal indulgence, which is to publicly say thanks to the staff at Spalding Mental Health Clinic; my immediate and extended family; my colleagues at Alston High School, particularly Vice-Principal Murdina Latty-Johnson; my former colleagues at Christiana Leased Primary; and the College of Agriculture Science and Education, especially Dr Shalani Golding; my brothers and sisters within the community of the mentally ill; as well as the Jamaica Observer for journeying with me as a bedrock of support. All of you have not only contributed to helping me lead a productive life and “righting” the narrative about mental health, but you have also motivated and inspired others through a life of service, discipline, and sacrifice.

The word is always love!

André A O Wellington is a mental health patient and advocate, dean of discipline, and a justice of the peace. Send comments to
the Jamaica Observer and/or andrewellington344@yahoo.com.

Statistics indicate that, globally, one in eight people live with a mental health disorder..