Minister Tufton urges national effort on mental health amid rising concerns

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Oct 02, 2025 12:45 PM | Health
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The Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton, is calling for a collective national effort to address mental health, urging citizens to check on their loved ones and utilize available support services.

The Minister’s appeal follows recent reports of suicides and a significant increase in calls to the ministry’s suicide prevention helpline, which received 633 calls last month.

“My call is for every single Jamaican to stop, to think, to look around their environment in order to see what is happening with their loved ones, with their friends, to offer support where they can; and where they can’t, to seek support from the public health system, through faith-based groups, through other safe spaces and safe persons. It is going to take each of us to address the mental health challenge,” he said.

He emphasized that help is available “through the public health system, through faith-based groups, through other safe spaces and safe persons. It is going to take each of us to address the mental health challenge.”

The Ministry is advancing several initiatives to strengthen the island's mental health infrastructure. Recent efforts include the training of 47 non-psychiatric healthcare workers under the World Health Organization's Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP), which equips them to better identify and treat conditions like depression. Another training cohort is scheduled for the coming weeks.

In the education sector, the School Mental Health Literacy Programme is set to resume, using guidance counsellors to teach students about mental health conditions and coping strategies to reduce stigma.

At the community level, the ministry has deployed 45 "Problem Management Plus" providers to offer support for individuals dealing with mild emotional distress or challenges such as relationship and workplace issues. The public health system also continues to operate over 150 mental health clinics for adults and more than 20 dedicated to children and adolescents islandwide.

For those seeking help, the Ministry highlighted several key resources:

Suicide Prevention Helpline: 888-NEW-LIFE (888-639-5433)
U-Matter Chatline (for ages 16-24): Text SUPPORT to 876-838-4897, or message via Instagram/Facebook @ureportjamaica.
Substance Use Support Line: 876-564-HELP (876-564-4357)

Dr. Tufton's comments also come after his participation in a recent United Nations high-level meeting on the prevention of non-communicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being.