Letter of the Day | Break the stigma of mental health
Published:Monday | August 26, 2024 | 12:05 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
As a boy, my only knowledge of mental illness was of a ‘madman’ and ‘madwoman’. I was taught to ignore them and avoid them. Maybe even fear them. I remember the scorn on people’s faces whenever they passed by as if it was a sin for them to exist. As if it was shameful. I never really understood, but maybe I silently agreed.
It was clear that they were different from me – other than. Probably born that way, because they could never be like me. They were madman, not human. They were Jamaica’s nuisance, and we’d all rather look away. But we can only look away for so long.
Today, the stigma surrounding mental illnesses is still one of the largest barriers. For many mental illness remains a sign of weakness, a curse, or even a form of possession. The stigma is rooted in our culture and our beliefs. It prevents the people who need our help the most from reaching out to get it.
And can we blame them? This shame is buried deep within us. We’ve been forced to make an impossible choice: sacrifice our health or sacrifice our dignity. And many would rather suffer alone than be called “madman.”
Counsellors and psychologists have done their best for a long time to challenge these stereotypes. But it has been difficult, and our children are the ones who are struggling the most.
According to recent studies, 20 per cent Jamaican children have mental disorders and more than 60 per cent of people treated at hospitals for attempted suicide are under 25 years old. It’s clear that we’re not just fighting stigma, we are fighting for Jamaica’s future.
JamPsych recently launched its ‘Stomp Out Stigma’ (SOS) campaign to increase understanding and awareness of these issues. The campaign is powerful, directly addressing many of these problems. But it will require much more.
We need the involvement of everyone in this country to make a real difference. We need to change the way we think and speak about mental health. No more madman and madwoman, no more scorn. We need to recognise that mental health is just like the rest of our health. And that it will always be important.
These days I hate the word madman. A word that tries to separate us as if we aren’t the same, as if I haven’t struggled myself. I hope that one day we can proudly celebrate our efforts to look out for each other, but it has to start here.
DANE MCGIBBON