The term mental illness has been in the news recently, but it is not new. Instead, it is an age-old problem that affects many Jamaican.
What is Mental Illness?
The American Psychiatric Association says Mental illnesses involve changes in emotion, thinking, or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses can be associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work, or family activities.
American Psychiatric Association
Mental illness is common. In a given year:
Nearly one in five (19%) U.S. adults experience mental illness.
One in 24 (4.1%) has a severe mental illness*.
One in 12 (8.5%) has a diagnosable substance use disorder.
Mental illness is treatable. Most individuals with mental illness continue to function in their daily lives.
However, mental illness is one of those diseases that Jamaican society denounces or condemns as improper or unacceptable. As a result, many people affected by the disease are either afraid or too ashamed to discuss it.
But, according to the American Psychiatric Association, ” Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of! It is a medical condition, just like heart disease or diabetes. And mental health conditions are treatable. We continually expand our understanding of how the human brain works. Treatments are available to help people successfully manage mental health conditions.”
American Psychiatric Association
Mental illness does not discriminate; it can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, geography, income, social status, race, ethnicity, religion/spirituality, sexual orientation, background, or cultural identity. While mental illness can occur at any age, three-fourths of all mental illness begins by age 24.
Mental illnesses take many forms. Some are mild and only interfere in limited ways with daily life, such as some phobias (abnormal fears). Other mental health conditions are so severe that a person may need care in a hospital. Like other medical illnesses, the optimal ways to provide care depend on the disease and the severity of its impact.”
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness said Government will seek to establish a direct partnership with the church to help provide meaningful intervention that supports mental health in the population. The PM made the announcement on January 4, 2023, during the ‘Heal the family, Heal the Nation’ conference at the National Arena.
His announcement came after two people committed suicide on the Island.