Jamaica cannot afford to treat the latest suicide figures released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) as just another set of statistics. They are really a warning signal of a troubling problem, not something to be explained away.

According to the police, Jamaica has recorded 44 suicide cases up to September 7 this year, compared with 38 over the corresponding period in 2025. That is a 15.8 per cent increase.

While the figure remains below the 50 cases recorded during the same period in 2024, we cannot ignore the fact that behind each of those 44 cases is a life lost and a circle of relatives, friends, and colleagues left to ask questions that may never be answered.

The gender disparity is particularly troubling, with 39 of the 44 victims being male.

And while suicide is often discussed as a problem affecting older people, the figures show that younger Jamaicans are also at risk. Six cases involved males between 11 and 20 years old, while seven involved males between 21 and 30.

The harsh reality is that suicide is a national problem.

Most importantly, Jamaicans must become more attentive to the warning signs.

When someone repeatedly talks about hopelessness, says that life is no longer worth living, withdraws from family and friends, gives away possessions, suddenly changes behaviour, expresses feeling trapped or like a burden, or talks about death or suicide, we cannot casually dismiss it as drama or attention-seeking. We must listen, we must ask questions, we must act.

This is especially important for men and boys, who are too often taught from childhood to suppress their emotions. The old message that, “Big man don’t cry,” can have devastating consequences when a person has nowhere safe to express pain, fear, failure, or despair.

The tragedy does not end with the death. Suicide can leave families carrying grief, guilt, anger, trauma, and unanswered questions for years. Research has found that people bereaved by suicide can experience serious mental-health consequences, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and increased risk of self-harm. The impact can extend beyond immediate relatives to friends, colleagues, and entire communities.

This is why prevention must include helping those who are left behind.

The work of organisations such as Choose Life International, led by Dr Donovan Thomas and his wife, Faith, in suicide prevention, counselling, grief support, and public education demonstrate the kind of sustained intervention that Jamaica needs. Their work reinforces an important truth: Suicide prevention should include creating a culture in which people feel able to seek help before the point of no return.

They cannot do this alone.

Parents must pay attention to changes in their children. Teachers must recognise distress that may be hidden behind poor behaviour or declining performance. Friends must take troubling messages seriously. Churches and community groups must provide spaces in which people can speak without shame. Employers must recognise that mental and emotional well-being are part of workplace well-being.

The latest figures are a warning. We should heed it. All of us must resist the temptation to look away.

If someone is signalling that they are overwhelmed or contemplating suicide, do not wait for certainty before reaching out. Listen. Stay with them. Connect them with professional help.

Sometimes the difference between a tragedy and a life saved is simply that somebody noticed and cared enough to act.