CONCERNED about the number of people in conflict with the law who are suffering from mental health challenges in St Mary judicial officers and security officials in the parish are appealing for more resources and training to help those affected.

Speaking during a mental health symposium hosted by the St Mary Parish Court recently Georgette Davis highlighted the plight faced daily by the court which she said is often seen as the first point of contact for people whose relatives are experiencing mental challenges.

“On what seems like almost a daily basis, the court comes into contact with someone experiencing a mental health challenge. The most recent data suggests that from late 2025 to present, the court has had approximately 60 cases in which accused persons presented with mental health challenges.

“Presently, there are 24 active cases where accused persons are suffering from mental health conditions,” Davis told the symposium.

She pointed out that people with mental health challenges — some of whom are awaiting psychiatric intervention while behind bars — have to be housed in special lockups away from the other prisoners.

“Family members are at pains to turn to the courts for the intervention when their loved one begins to suffer from a mental health condition. Often times when pressed about why they come directly to the courts they often lament by saying, ‘Miss, we do not have anywhere else to go’. Our presence here is in answer to that all too popular lament,” added Davis.

Deputy Superintendent Charmaine Green commanding officer for the Jamaica Constabulary Force Zone One, reinforced the point made by the judge as she pleaded for partnerships and training for community members to help alleviate the challenges.

“When we have persons in the communities with a mental illness, family members don’t know how to address it. They don’t know how to deal with it. So, the first thing that they usually do is call the police. And if they are so trained then they will be in a position to know what to do and to give the necessary assistance where that is concerned,” said Green as she lamented the shortage of mental health professionals in St Mary.

˝What we realize is that there are not many psychiatrists in the parish and that pose a problem whenever the prisoners are to be evaluated… So, if an order is made by the courts, if the psychiatrist is not in office, then it delays the person from being examined or evaluated and it also delays the court procedures.

“So we are asking as best as possible if we can have more psychiatrists in the parish,” added Green.

She told the symposium that at present psychiatrists who provide services in the parish only do so twice weekly at which point no more than two prisoners from each facility are seen.

“So, for example, we may have two in Oracabessa and we may have two in Islington. But only two of those prisoners will be attended to on that particular day. So, yes, they will attend to them but for that day only two. So, when the others are pushed back, it basically pushes back everything,” Davis explained.

In the meantime, senior judge of the St Mary Parish Court Nicole Kellier said judicial officers on that side of the island are bullish in their determination to find solutions.

˝We no longer will be sitting down allowing persons to suffer in our custody alone. We will be suffering with them, and that is why we had this symposium here today to tell you more about what is happening in St Mary and to give you an insight of what we need in the justice system to fix the mental health persons that are in custody in St Mary and other places.

“We are not sitting down as judges in St Mary any more. We are seeking the help and we are going to get the help for these persons,” Kellier declared as she reminded the police of their obligations to mentally ill individuals in conflict with the law.

˝Officers in St Mary…based on Section 15 of the Mental Health Act you are to take the persons to the nearest facilities, and if you charge any of these persons, you are to bring them before the court within five days of taking them and charging them for any offences. It is a breach for you not to do so,” Kellier pointed out.

She further charged the cops to ensure that no harm comes to the people with mental health challenges in are in custody.

˝There are other things the Mental Health Act gives us the court the powers to do. If persons are in custody and you’re abusing these persons, let me tell you today that Sections 33 to 36 are offences created under the statute that you can be charged under for ill-treating the persons.

“You can be charged $500,000 before this court and I’m going to charge you that money. If you sexually abuse that person [the fine is] $1 million. You ought to take care of these persons in your custody. They are human and they are suffering. We are not at that stage [mentally ill], but we don’t know when we’ll get there. And you ought to take care of them. You don’t know when you are going to be behind bars for a simple lie that someone would have told on you,” added Kellier.