Visitors to Cheapside, Junction, in south-eastern St Elizabeth, can easily locate a monument on the side of the main road in memory of Mr Haile Clacken, who was killed at that spot in 2017.

A former journalist and brilliant educator, Mr Clacken struggled with bipolar disorder, a form of mental illness which leads to extreme mood swings and potentially manic behaviour.

Just before his death, Mr Clacken — seemingly influenced by his mental disability — climbed atop an armoured truck owned by a security company.

Security guards, presumably unaware of Mr Clacken’s presence, subsequently boarded the vehicle and drove away.

Some time later the vehicle pulled over in nearby Cheapside. Mr Clacken climbed down and, following interaction with the security guards, he was shot dead. His death triggered outrage far and wide.

It’s testament to the weaknesses afflicting Jamaica’s justice system that it took seven years for the court trial to be completed.

Security guard Mr Shawn Cole was sentenced to 18 years for murder with the possibility of parole after 10 years.

Ongoing appeals following Mr Clacken’s death as well as similar tragedies have been for greater public education regarding mental illness so that the public can better cope.

Mr Clacken’s mother, a community activist and former aspirant to political representation at local authority level on behalf of the People’s National Party (PNP), Mrs Lilieth Clacken, has left no stone unturned in her quest to lift public awareness. She admirably led the way in the January 2018 formation of the Haile Clacken Bipolar Foundation to help build community awareness of mental illness; to assist in the quest to remove associated stigma; as well as provide relief for the mentally ill and their loved ones.

Hence the cries of distress from Mrs Clacken and others following news earlier this month that respected businessman and musician Mr Alanzo Brooks — like Mr Clacken diagnosed with bipolar disorder — was shot dead by police at home in Nain, south-east St Elizabeth.

To be very clear, this newspaper is in no position to determine the truth of how Mr Brooks came to die. A comprehensive story in our latest Sunday edition informs us of an official report from the Constabulary Communications Network suggesting that the police acted in self-defence when Mr Brooks was killed.

The police were at the scene to assist a mental health team in administering medication. Our reporter also spoke to a self-described eyewitness, who outlined circumstances which appear to suggest that Mr Brooks didn’t have to die. Investigations at all levels will no doubt reveal more.

Regardless, we can’t but empathise with Mrs Clacken for her comment that awareness of mental illness remains low and that “this really is painful because this young man is a success story…” — just as was her son.

We also note testimony from Mr Brooks’s friends describing an upstanding citizen.

Beyond all of the above, and whatever the various investigations may or may not reveal, this newspaper feels the need to reiterate calls for clarity regarding how the security forces should treat with mentally ill people showing violent inclinations. We believe it would be helpful if the public has a clearer idea of the non-lethal options open to enforcement officers before that final, deadly step.