THE MINISTRY of Health (MoH) has launched a mental health promotion and educational campaign, aimed at raising public awareness about the importance of maintaining good mental health and de-stigmatising mental illness.
The $5 million campaign is set to reposition mental health in people's minds, to the point where it will be understood that everyone, at some point in their lives, will suffer from a mental problem, the most common of which is depression, Ministry reports show.
The campaign, which will include a radio series as well as print media advertising campaigns, discussions and public meetings, is geared at reaching the estimated 500,000 Jamaicans who are living with mental disorders.
A component of the Ministry's ongoing Healthy Lifestyle Programme and an element of the National Strategic Mental Health Plan, which was introduced and approved last year in the Ministry, the programme will go towards implementing a comprehensive, effective mental health service.
Financed through the Health Support Fund, the launch also included the presentation of four buses to the four Regional Health Authorities on the island to strengthen the emergency crisis intervention and assertive outreach programme by assisting mental health professionals to bring mobile services to needy communities. This should also enhance the service provided to the homeless mentally ill.
For the Southern and North East regions the vehicles will mean that crisis/assertive outreach teams can be activated, while in the Western and South East regions, the vehicles will be used to establish a second psychiatric emergency team, Health Minister John Junor said.
The programme will help educate the country on what is good mental health, how to achieve it, how to manage mental disorders and remove the stigma attached to mental disorders in Jamaica.
"We want people to know about the services that are available and the steps that are being taken to improve delivery of health care for persons with mental disorders," Dr. Earl Wright, Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at the Ministry said.
The team will meet with schools, churches and other such groups in each region to get their input on how to enhance programmes and get optimum results. The Ministry will provide the qualified people to administer help like medication if needed.
"Unfortunately while many persons may be aware that all is not well with their mental state, they are unwilling to talk about it or seek treatment because there is still a high degree of stigma attached to any form of mental disorder," Dr. Wright said.
"These programmes should teach individuals that it is important to take care of their mental health as well as their physical health," Dr. Wright said.
