MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Unaware that she was believed to have murdered her two-month-old son hours earlier, a concerned community health aide assisted a 20-year-old woman, who has mental health challenges, to a health centre on Tuesday.

Director at the Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA) Michael Bent told the Jamaica Observer that the community health aide was driving through the area when she saw the woman.

“The community health aide… saw the person who is a known mental health patient and was due a visit. She took her in her car to the health centre for her regular check-up and it was when she reached the health centre [that] she heard of the news of what happened,” Bent said, in reference to Tuesday’s shocking incident in Top Hill.

“We must commend this community health aide and the team for continuing to do their work,” Bent added.

Up to mid-morning Wednesday the police were reporting that the woman, whose name is being withheld, was still being treated at hospital even as investigations continued into the death of her two-month-old child Mateo Forbes.

“Further investigation revealed that the mother of the child is an outpatient at the mental health clinic at the Percy Junor Hospital. She was picked up by members of the Manchester Health Department and transported to the Percy Junor Hospital where she is currently restrained, being treated and under observation,” said acting commander for Manchester Deputy Superintendent Luhas Daniels.

Police confirmed reports that the woman was home alone with the child after her partner left to work in a field in Top Hill district Tuesday morning. Allegations are that the woman contacted the child’s father to say she drowned the child.

Relatives reported that Mateo was born on December 21, 2025.

In the aftermath of the incident Bent said the SRHA — which oversees health care in Manchester, Clarendon and St Elizabeth — is equipped to monitor and respond to mental health patients.

“We have the emergency response team and we also have the mental health team in each parish who see patients and we have community health centres. We also have regular home visits where they go into the communities and to homes of each of these patients and they will check up on these patients to ensure that they are taking their medication and to ensure their well-being,” he said.

“While out in the field they help counsel the families too on how to take care of their [relatives] with mental illness, it is a very challenging job, but the commitment is there. Mental illness is real and we encourage everyone in the community, once they see any strange behaviour, to contact us on the mental health hotline or communicate with the community health aids, or the health-care workers in their communities, or the nearest health centre and ask the team to just go and check on the persons. Don’t wait until it is out of control,” added Bent.

Regional director for the Southern Regional Health Authority Michael Bent encourages employers to foster a culture of wellness in their organisations.