The Jamaica Government will be targeting the church for partnership to promote a direct and deliberate programme to tackle the problem of mental health.
The announcement was made by Prime Minister Andrew Holness during the ‘Heal the Family, Heal the Nation’ conference, held at the National Arena, in Kingston on Wednesday.
“We need to start a public education campaign, not just from the Government, not just from the Ministry of Health, but also from our churches and other organisations and entities to get our Jamaicans to change this culture of not trying to seek help when they are in crisis,” the Prime Minister said.
He also notes that he will refrain from calling anyone mad, owing to the different connotation it has in Jamaica.
“But we all, everyone, including me, I’m certain sometimes the Leader of the Opposition… will have our challenges with mental health… stress [and] pressure in your own life. Sometimes you wake up and you’re just angry and you cannot tell why,” he continued.
Holness, in promoting the partnership, said it will be beneficial because pastors are “well-trained” to assist with various types of issues.
“They may not be able to give you money, but believe me, just [the] process of finding someone to talk to… I know a lot of that is being done in the church,” Holness stressed.