Dear Editor,

The recent increase in suicides across Jamaica is both heartbreaking and alarming. Each loss represents a person who may have felt unseen, unheard, and unsupported, a reminder that our nation’s mental health crisis demands urgent, collective action. While conversations around mental health have become more open in recent years, we must move beyond awareness to concrete, inclusive strategies that address the diverse realities of those most at risk.

Suicide is never caused by one factor alone. It is often the end result of a complex web of issues such as poverty, unemployment, family conflict, stigma, discrimination, and untreated mental illness. For some — particularly members of marginalised groups, such as LGBTQ+ individuals, people living with disabilities, and those in rural or low-income communities — these vulnerabilities are compounded by social exclusion and limited access to quality care.

According to the Jamaica Constabulary Force, between January and September 2025 there were 44 suicides compared to 53 during the same period in 2024, resulting in about a 17 per cent decline overall. However, this does not tell the full story since July recorded eight suicides, which is a 33 per cent increase compared to July 2024, while August and September saw rises of 20 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively.

In 2024 Jamaica recorded 67 suicide deaths, the highest number in almost 25 years, with 61 of the victims being men, highlighting a stark gender disparity. The average suicide rate remains around two to 2.4 per 100,000 people.

The statistics tell us that while we may have a slight overall decline suicide is surging in specific months in certain parishes and among particular groups. These patterns suggest there are intersectional factors at play, such as gender norms, economic stress, social isolation, age-related pressures, and geographical variation.

Addressing suicide prevention, therefore, requires an intersectional approach, one that recognises how overlapping forms of inequality shape people’s mental health outcomes. Our national response must involve not only the Ministry of Health and Wellness, but also the ministries of education, labour, and social security; civil society organisations, faith-based groups, and the private sector. Each has a role to play in strengthening the safety nets that prevent people from falling through the cracks.

We also need to expand access to community-based counselling services, especially in rural parishes, and invest in mental health literacy campaigns that challenge stigma and normalise help-seeking. Schools, workplaces, and community centres should be safe spaces where mental wellness is prioritised and early interventions are available. Importantly, national suicide prevention efforts must include the lived experiences of those most affected — our young people, survivors, and vulnerable groups — in both policy design and implementation.

If we are to turn the tide, we must act with empathy, urgency, and collaboration. Every life lost to suicide is one too many, and preventing the next must be a shared responsibility.

Lamar Grant

Diversity, equity, and inclusion advocate

lamar@transwaveja.org