By Mario Boothe
“May Madness Jolts’ the Nation” was
the title of “The Jamaica Gleaner’s” first Editorial for June; incidentally the start of the
Atlantic hurricane season. Possibly a cautionary indication of the nation’s mental
tempest caused by harsh economic times; maybe the unyielding cyclone of public
opinion or the political storm to follow on the matter of National Security and
our relentless struggle with crime and violence.
Unfortunately, not even a slight breathe of a whisper will be
said of Mental Health in its truest form as a contributor to our crime rate. Although In Jamaica, neuropsychiatric disorders are
estimated to contribute to 20.3% of the global burden of disease (WHO, 2008).
While the word “Madness” in the Editorial title
may have suggested the topic of Mental Health, it read to the effect of
repeated commentary with mentions of Jamaica’s high murder rate; the
conventional public condemnation by Government officials; the ineffectiveness
of our Law Enforcers; and our broken communities.
Notably missing was the criticisms of the church’s
institutional role as the ‘moral compass’ (as it were) but they hinted to our
pseudo Christian Nation claim “it is scandalous that our small, supposedly God-fearing
country ranks among the top 10 in the world for murder.” said the Editors.
“the dismembering of a four-year-old girl in Trelawny;
the murder of an eight-year-old left to rot in a latrine in St Catherine; the
dumping of a new-born’s body in a pit latrine in Trelawny; and the beheading of
an octogenarian in Kingston, all within days”.
The editorial recalls the gruesome acts of
human violence (or Madness) but this sort of human behaviour is hardly human
(at best) yet the church and other conservative/traditionalist stakeholders
continue to push the issue of ‘Who is to Blame’ - Society or the Individual,
when both are inseparable and link through many channels; the most fragile
being “Mentally”.
Tampered Thoughts
“Murder is so commonplace in Jamaica that the country appears to
have become inured to the grisly litany of death and mayhem that stalks the
land. There seems to be no more outrage left for another wave of brutal
murders.”
The
opening lines read with truth ringing in every word. Jamaican sentiments
concerning violent crimes have shifted over the years from absolute
sensationalism characterized by the symbolic wearing of black and the now trending
“Jungle Justice” rational, characterized by the mobbing of the ‘suspects”.
Have our minds been so littered with violence we have become
immune to its emotional sting and still be susceptible to its virus-like
effects ourselves?
It’s been argued for decades whether violent media (i.e.
Video Games) can leave an impression on the thinking of adolescence, most
research papers reject the claim of ‘virtual’ imprinting; However “actual”
exposure to continuous violence does impact our mental status, from the
extremities of war to the secrecy of domestic violence.
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In a 2002 World Health Organization’s (WHO) fact report on “Youth Violence” stated that “In
2000, an estimated 199 000 youth murders took place globally – equivalent to
565 children and young people aged 10-29 years dying on average each day as a
result of interpersonal violence”, the main risk factors
and influences included:
- ·
“history
of early aggressive behaviour”
- ·
“parental
conflict in early childhood”
- ·
“Gangs
and a local supply of guns and drugs area potent mixture, increasing the
likelihood of youth violence”
Jamaican youths are three for three on the ‘main risk factors
and influences’ listed.
The late detection or refusal to acknowledge the existence of
mental illness in its many forms (depression, stress, bi-polar disorder, etc.)
caused by the ‘factors and influences’ is indicative of a Black society as studies
show that Blacks have tabooed
mental illness treatment due to the “crazy, coke-head or madman” stigma attached
to the issue – the religiosity of the race places even more pressure on the
individual relating mental illness to a sin or demonic possession, although
many churches provide train therapist.
In a 2007 Study conducted by the Department of Psychology and
Neuroscience, Baylor University, USA; involving self-identified Christians on
an online mental illness discussion group.
Interestingly though, when the participant were asked “As a
result of the church’s involvement, the problem seemed” the results showed
(Unchanged, 39.9%; Worse, 25.9%, Better, 34.1%), meaning more than half the participant
had ‘no change or got worst’ after their churches involvement.
Then do we
really need “Divine Intervention”?
Lacking Leadership
Also under the “main risk factors and influences” in the
WHO’s “Youth Violence” report was “The quality of a country’s governance – its laws and
the extent to which they are enforced, as well as policies for social
protection – has an important effect on violence” .
Our Politicians must begin to personally take serious the ‘Culture
of Thinking and Behaviour’ among the population not just hold hands with the
nearest priest - singing “Holy Mary” - as though the human component is
expendable. In respond to the high
levels of misfits within our society, who only see themselves as other and
replaceable; bitter about their economic situation and lifestyle; seeking
leaders to rap with them on their level and not just be a jacket and tie
aristocrat.
An officially approved mental health policy exists and was
approved or most recently revised in 2004. Mental health is specifically
mentioned in the general health policy.
While our laws maybe up-to-date, there needs to be systematic
changes for mental health in Jamaica, to fix the legal provisions concerning
mental health that are not covered in other laws (e.g., welfare, disability and
general health legislation); education about mental disorders and the treatment process is a critical
part in reducing barriers to treatment including
public education campaigns (e.g., social media), and educational presentations
at community venues and
mental health sessions at local health clinics.
The cost of treatment may be prohibitive for many, especially among
those without insurance coverage. Many low-income individuals can find help in
the community health system, but such systems may suffer from a lack of
clinicians able to treat complex and less common conditions.
Inability
to Access care has been noted by a WHO report on the digjamaica.com website stated “Persons with mental illnesses in Jamaica are also affected by the lack
of appropriate and timely care. Most of the patients are sent for treatment to
the capital city, Kingston, due to lack of facilities in other areas. The World Health Organization has indicated
that this situation violates its regulation regarding treatment of patients as
near to their homes or communities as possible, and called on the Jamaican
State to address this issue in the revision of its mental health policies.”
Where is the public private
partnership on Mental Healthcare? It would make sense to keep your workforce in
‘working order’ to keep your labour force effective and efficient to pump
revenue in the government.
Going Forward
According to the Mental Health Atlas 2011 - Department of Mental Health
and Substance
Abuse, World Health Organization: Jamaica
“Jamaica’s mental health expenditures by the government
health department/ministry are 6.04% of the total health budget. Precise mental
hospital expenditures are not available. However, data from 2006/2007 estimate
mental hospital expenditures to be approximately 80% of the mental health
budget.”
The budget allocation is up from 5% in 2005 to 6.04 in 2011,
a jump of 1.04% which is a good direction for our Government to continue on as
the society begins to adjust into the new reality of relating mental illness to
violent crime, and it can no longer be a stigma or something to be ashamed of.
The economic, physical, political, social, spiritual pressures all contribute
to the well being of your mental health therefore the welfare of society itself
because as an individual you are a part of humanity.
When we engage in these conversations we use of the
term “society” as a way to deflect responsibility. We do this because, well,
it’s the easy thing to do. To accept one’s membership within to society is to
accept responsibility for the injustices.
The truth of the matter is this; we do not have the
option, or the privilege, of opting out of our membership to society whenever
we feel that it’s convenient to us. We should not embrace our membership
to society whenever we make strides of wealth; only to distance ourselves from,
and blame, society whenever we feel it is convenient to us. Collectively,
we all participate in this thing we call “society”.
Rather than focusing so much on how society impacts
the individual; we need to place an equal (or greater) amount of emphasis on
how the individual can impact society. It is only then that we can begin to
engage in a discourse than can foster real change and limit the “Madness”.
It is sad that perhaps our children who may have to lead our #MeToo moment if we adults continue to keep silent.
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