ADVERSE childhood experiences and signs of hopelessness are among the key indicators that an individual may be struggling with their mental health and might be in need of intervention or support, consultant psychiatrist Dr Saphire Longmore has revealed.

Signs of self-harm, overt expressions of a desire to conduct the act, and romanticising the idea of taking their life are also triggers that indicate that intervention is needed, she added.

“If you or you have someone that you’re concerned about, especially if they have all of these factors that I have mentioned before, and hopelessness is also a part of it, then I would take that situation seriously,” said Dr Longmore.

She noted that, as a preventative measure, it is essential that individuals, having recognised the signs, seek to provide care in a holistic manner — physically, socially, spiritually — and watch as the mental aspect naturally follows.

“Your spiritual [life] is your most important…We are all born from the light inside of us. Research is showing that literally now, when fertilisation happens, a little spark of light goes off. That light carries us through life, and when stuff happens that attacks that light, that attacks our spirit, it’s like a darkening, and it’s like persons or something is trying to block your growth.

“That’s what abuse is, that’s what trauma is, that’s what lack of boundaries is, that’s what poor communication is, and that’s poor conflict resolution. When that light is being affected, your spirit is being affected, and so to help mend or to heal, one of the main things we have to do is seek to help that spirit reignite that light,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Dr Longmore emphasised the importance of self-love and self-care in suicide prevention, noting that when individuals recognise their unique purpose and value in life, they are better able to withstand challenges and choose life over self-harm. She added that maintaining one’s physical health through proper diet, exercise, hydration, and sleep also plays a critical role, while acknowledging that approaches may differ from person to person.

“The relationships that you have, intimate and otherwise — your co-workers, your colleagues, your friends — recognise that in those spaces you want to enhance the positive ones, the ones that help to fluff up that light and to oxygenate that light.

“The ones that kind of make it dull, that don’t really make you feel good about yourself, you learn that those might be stressors so learn how to put boundaries in those social interactions,” she encouraged.

The consultant psychiatrist also highlighted the importance of play and engaging in activities that strengthen social, spiritual, physical, and mental well-being. However, if these strategies prove insufficient and individuals continue to struggle with their mental health or suicidal thoughts, she urged them to seek professional help.

“If we find that something isn’t right, if you find that this is not working for you in the way that you want it to, and you’re not being your best self, seek help…it’s not just about mental ill health, because that tends to have a negative stigma. It’s about being well enough to step into what you’re capable of and that you are able to be the best that you want to be,” she said, encouraging individuals to look at the positive impact seeking help can have on their life instead of the negative realities that cause them to require help.

She noted that support can be accessed in various forms, including through the Church, counsellors, and government agencies.

“The Ministry of Health and Wellness has its mental health and suicide prevention line…which is 888-NEW-LIFE, [that] is 888-639-5433. Even if you go to the Ministry of Health website, moh.gov.jm, you’ll find links there. Safe Spot Jamaica, which is 24 hours, and U-Matter are more geared towards younger teenagers age groups, and these are online chats and
WhatsApp. The U-Matter is actually a WhatsApp number, which is 876-838-4897, and there is actually a website, too,
jamaica.ureport.in,” shared Dr Longmore.

“Specifically, [for] child abuse, 2-1-1 is a hotline for reporting child abuse. For domestic violence, there is Women’s Inc and there are two stations, two primary offices, one of that is in Kingston [and] one is in Montego Bay. The Kingston office is 876-929-9038 and Montego Bay is 876-952-9533-4, and actually, there should be a 24-hour line at the Kingston office 876-929-2997,” she added.

Dr Longmore further noted that individuals can reach out to the Jamaica Psychiatric Association as well as private counsellors for support, and stressed the importance of ensuring that, on a national level, all avenues are active.

“We must become proactive in our preventative measures. We must now ensure that the helplines are up and active and working. Ensure that whatever processes that follow through — the community health aides and the community response teams — are active. When persons are having a crisis situation at home, [ensure] they know that they can contact a particular site, that there will be a response. These measures, as best as possible, on a national scale, need to be emphasised, and the general stigma in health-care delivery targeting mental health should also be as much reduced and recognised,” said Dr Longmore.