KINGSTON, Jamaica —During a recent tour of Bellevue Hospital, Chief Executive Officer Suzette Buchanan highlighted the urgent need for increased family involvement in the care of patients who, she says, have been abandoned by relatives and left at the institution for decades.

Buchanan revealed that a significant number of patients currently housed at the facility were brought in by family members and never reclaimed, with some individuals residing at Bellevue for as long as 40 years.

“One woman was dropped off here about 30 years ago by her children,” Buchanan confirmed. “They have not been back to see her since.”

She explained that while she understands the realities of caregiver burnout, families must recognise that mental health patients can live stable and fulfilling lives once they receive appropriate treatment.

“I understand caregiver burnout, but the reality is that these individuals are not given an opportunity. Once you treat them, they are stable. There are many persons who are outside the walls of Bellevue, living with mental health conditions, in our schools, homes, churches and they are functioning because they are on their medication,” she said.

Buchanan stressed that ignorance and misunderstanding surrounding mental health continue to fuel neglect, often resulting in patients being left at the institution until death, without meaningful family contact.

She remains adamant that families must show greater care and compassion, noting that many patients yearn for emotional connection and support from loved ones.

“For some persons the last memory they had is their loved ones being manic or aggressive, so when they think about visiting or having them join back the family it is difficult,” Buchan stated.

Bellevue Hospital opened its doors in 1861 and, for the past 160 years, has served as Jamaica’s primary institution for the treatment of individuals living with mental health conditions.

However, the fight against mental illness remains an uphill battle, particularly due to the stigma still attached to mental health.

Buchanan noted that many Jamaicans continue to ignore warning signs out of fear of ridicule, shame, and neglect, leading to the abandonment of those in need of care.

“Because of the ignorance, they do not understand mental illness,” she explained. “That is why as Jamaicans we have to make a serious effort to change the stigma, even by changing the language, not using the ‘M’ word but instead say persons are living with a ‘mental health condition.”

The ‘M’ word Buchanan referred to is ‘mad’, a term often used to describe individuals perceived to be of unsound mind. She believes this harmful language has contributed to widespread misunderstanding, preventing many Jamaicans from recognising that people living with mental health conditions are no different from anyone else.

Buchanan pleaded with families of patients currently housed at the institution to become more present in their loved ones’ lives.

“Living with a mental health condition is like having diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. It is controlled with medication,” Buchanan emphasised.

“They need you, they need your love and the reality is social support forms a very big part of their care but they need loving arms. It is inhumane to have them locked up like this. Come be a part of their lives,” she urged.

She also highlighted that for relatives unable to visit the hospital in person, Bellevue has introduced a virtual communication system, implemented after she assumed office as CEO in 2022.

“We saw a need to implement technology to help those who are not coming into the institution to visit,” she explained.

“You can talk to a social worker and you will get an opportunity to interact with your loved ones on video, wherever you are in the world you are,” she added.

As Bellevue continues to modernise its approach to mental health care, Buchanan insists that treatment alone is not enough. Without family involvement and societal understanding, patients remain vulnerable to isolation and abandonment.

Buchanan’s work has also garnered global acclaim. In 2025 she was named International Mental Health Advocate of the Year by the Mental Health Foundation Australia, recognising her leadership in mental-health awareness and stigma reduction on the world stage.