A survey done by the Ministry of Health in 2013 has revealed that 20 per cent of children in second to sixth forms in secondary institutions were at risk for suicidal behaviour.
According to the Planning Institute of Jamaica’s (PIOJ) annual Economic and Social Survey Jamaica (ESSJ) (2014/15), the ministry, through the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), conducted a UNICEF-funded special study on “Youth Suicide in Jamaica”, through the 2013 National School Survey.
“The study revealed that approximately 20 per cent of a sample of children from Grades 8-12 were at risk for suicidal behaviour,” the document, which was tabled in the House of Representatives last Tuesday, reported.
In addressing the recommendations for prevention, the ESSJ said that a national task force was commissioned to develop an implementation plan based on those findings. The implementation plan outlined strategies to prevent suicidal behaviour and improve management of attempted suicides among the youth population.
The Ministry of Health reported that last year that of all reported cases of attempted suicide, the age group 10-19 accounted for the majority, or one-third, of visits to ambulatory (patients who are not bedridden) care in public health institutions.
Although the visits fell to 2,171, from 2,529 in 2013, 18 per cent were from new cases compared to 21 per cent in 2013. The institutions mostly utilised were the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston (31 per cent) and institutions in the Western Regional Health Authority, which includes Montego Bay (19 per cent), which adds up to 50 percent of the patients.
On a wider scale, the ministry reported that mental health-related visits were among the top-five speciality admissions in the hospitals, and one of the top-six curative visits to health centres for children and adults.
Just over 47,000 clients with psychiatric illnesses visited health centres, and 2,440 were admitted to hospitals, last year.
The ministry said that a protocol for the management of patients with mental disorders was completed in July last year, printed and disseminated. Priority training was also given to 60 mental health workers, with specific focus on the management of mental disorders and human rights approach. Doctors, nurses and psychiatric aides were also trained in the protocol for the use of restraints and seclusion.
The ministry also stated that it has received funding for the development of a mental health workplace policy for which the terms of reference have been developed. The policy will guide the issues of mental health disorders among persons in the labour force.
Mi dey ya a try fe figure out where, and when it all went wrong. I mean, how de yute dem of Jamaica 2015 get so much raw deals man?……from de music, to de morals, from de lack of respect to de elders, to the suicidal behaviors…..and the list just goes on and on………………
Break down in moral values
Bwaay mi not even know wah fi seh boy dem here survey yere.. 40% hab mental illness, and now test a seh 20% hab suicidal, was dis done from the same population or another set, a wah di hell a gwan yah?
Bwaay mi not even know wah fi seh boy dem here survey yere.. 40% a children a yaard hab mental illness, 40% a di adults dem di same ting, and now test a seh 20% a di former suicidal, was dis done from the same surveyed population or another set, a wah di hell a gwan yah? well almost half a di population = pickney mad and suicidal, and di same fi di adult) Jamaica is a open mad house, and di summady dem wah a run it nuh too right innah dem head eidah..so we doom..