Many Jamaicans are likely to experience some kind of mental health issue during their lifetime. The most commonly diagnosed forms of mental illnesses in Jamaica are depression and schizophrenia. Mental health issues can affect anyone old or young, rich or poor.
When you’re young, the stresses of growing up, family conflicts, study, work and situations such as living in care or being homeless can all take their toll on your mental health.
It can also be really tough living with or standing by a friend or relative who has a serious mental health problem. It can be hard to know what to expect, or what you should do. It’s important to remember that if you feel like you’re not coping, it doesn’t mean you’re at fault, and that there is lots of help available to you during these times.
Looking After Your Mental Health
There are many ways to look after your mental health even when you don’t think it needs special attention. It helps if you can:
Dealing with Mental Health Issues
A mental health problem can happen to anyone at any time. It’s nobody’s fault.
It may seem hard to understand or deal with, but it really helps to speak out and get support instead of trying to deal with it alone. Below are a few steps that are helpful in these situations:
The Ministry of Health and Wellness, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Caribbean Child Development Centre (CCDC) at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus, today launched “U-Matter” – a new chatline to provide mental health support for Jamaican youth aged 16-24.
The chatline will operate via mobile messaging through the “U-Report” platform created by UNICEF. Young people who need support can send messages at any time on their mobile phones to connect with trained counsellors. There is no cost to use the service.
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