Prefects fight hurricane trauma in schools

Over the past year, the Jamaica Prefects’ Association (JPA) has intensified its national outreach given the lingering impact of Hurricane Melissa on students’ mental health.

While last academic year initially commenced with courtesy calls targeting previously inactive schools, such visits have taken on an added sense of importance given the ongoing challenges students face.

JPA President Nashá Patterson told The Gleaner, “Several prefects across the island were severely affected. A lot of psychological issues, mental health issues would have surfaced. So we did interviews to know what prefects were going through.”

In response, the JPA created virtual platforms for prefects to share their experiences and provide updates on their emotional well-being. Patterson noted that several students, especially in Region 4 and 5, which consist of Jamaica’s westernmost parishes, wrote to the organisation to express their fears.

Worrying trends

Patterson’s concerns come against the backdrop of data which suggest that one in four Jamaican students have contemplated suicide and up to 60 per cent of hospital admissions for attempted suicide involve young people under the age of 24. Compounding this challenge is the fact that approximately 15 per cent of Jamaican adolescents show signs of depression and anxiety.

“This reflects a growing mental health epidemic among our youth. Jamaica must confront the systemic factors that generate the mental health crisis, rather than merely respond to its symptoms,” Patterson added.

“Our society’s foundation has been undermined by neglect, stigma, and limited understanding factors that perpetuate the cycle of distress. Just as a tree cannot strive when its roots are diseased, our youth cannot flourish when the environment around them is toxic.”

Such concerns were also raised by the JPA’s general secretary, Jordan Forrester, who underscored the need for reducing student isolation.

“Students do not recover in isolation. Their well-being depends on the awareness and compassion of everyone around them. When parents, teachers, and community members are informed and empathetic, they become part of the solution,” Forrester said.

Among the schools visited as a part of the JPA’s outreach were Jonathan Grant High School, Aabuthnott Gallimore High School, Fair Prospect High School, Troy High School, Charlie Smith High School, Denham Town High School, Holy Trinity High School, Annotto Bay High School, Albert Town High School, Bishop Gibson High School, Spanish Town High School, Mt St Joseph Catholic High School and Edwin Allen High School.

Establishing new partnerships

Patterson revealed that such engagements have yielded positive outcomes and the organisation has even made a concerted effort to reach out to private secondary institutions.

“We realised that private schools are also a part of us because we cater to all students registered under the ministry,” Patterson said.

One such partnership that emerged through discussions with Heinz Simonitsch School in St James resulted in the expansion of STEM mentoring throughout high schools.

The school’s deputy head boy, Julius Jackson, shared, “Through collaboration with the JPA, I want to bring together secondary school students across the island who are interested in STEM with emphasis on physics and serious problem-solving, creating a space where we can learn together, read and discuss research papers, and develop models and algorithms that can be tested and challenged. This … [will] be a new and exciting approach to STEM engagement beyond the classroom.”

Patterson is encouraging student leaders to suggest further partnerships for collaboration. The association will be continuing its national tour this academic year to meet prefect bodies directly to discuss leadership challenges and encourage increased student participation. The association has also sought to expand its internal capacity through the establishment of a JPA Alumni Network, which is aimed at strengthening the organisation’s institutional memory.

editorial@gleanerjm.com