Letter of the Day | Address mental illness, Dr Tufton

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Congratulations on your reappointment as minister of health and wellness. I am praying for God’s guidance and protection over your life, the Government and the people of Jamaica. Data from the Ministry of Health and Wellness revealed that there are over 100,000 mentally ill persons living in Jamaica today. The vast majority of these mentally ill persons are of working age and unemployed, and a significant percentage are homeless or living below the poverty line.

Mentally ill persons are disproportionately worse off than any other demographic as it relates to our standard of living. The Task Force on Mental illness and Homelessness that was appointed by you in 2018 made some important recommendations, many of which have not yet been implemented. I hope the recommendations of the task force will not stay on the shelf and gather dust, like previous recommendations made over many years. You need to move with speed, minister, to implement the recommendations of the task force and end the discrimination and wanton disregard of the mentally ill community. A paradigm shift is needed in the way we treat the mentally ill.

Many of the mentally ill persons who are unemployed are eminently qualified to work and can work well, but because of the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness, we are overlooked for employment and eventually kept out of the labour force. As a mental health patient myself, I know that there are tremendous talents and skills within this community that can be unearthed and prove beneficial to the country. I have every confidence that the country would be better if we provide a seat at the table for the mentally ill and provide equity for economic opportunity.

RECOMMENDATIONS

I wish to make three simple recommendations which, I believe, can lead to a big shift in the way mental illness is looked at in our society. First, I am recommending that modern drugs be provided to mental health patients at public pharmacies, instead of traditional drugs. This has proven to increase compliance and effectiveness.

Second, appoint a cadre of mental health patients and train them as mental health ambassadors. These ambassadors should be tasked to build support groups within communities and work with mental health patients to make them more knowledgeable about the disease and develop coping skills. They would also develop creative partnerships with schools, church and other civic groups to create projects and programmes targeting mental wellness and destigmatisation.

Third, educational scholarships and grants, along with a stipend from PATH funds, can be provided to mentally ill patients by way of a means test through the structures of the health department. These are low-hanging fruits that I think you can implement in short order, minister. On behalf of the community of the mentally ill, I suggest these recommendations for your consideration.

ANDRE WELLINGTON

Mental Health Patient and

Advocate