Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Dr. Georgia Rose, is urging men to seek help and express their emotions, as a means to reduce the high suicide rate among males in the country.
The suicide rate in Jamaica reflects an average of two per 100,000 people over a five to 10-year period, with men accounting for more than 80 per cent of suicides or 52 of the 63 recorded over the same period.
In an interview with JIS News, Dr. Rose attributed the statistics to the deeply ingrained cultural narrative that discourages men from acknowledging or sharing their emotions.
“Men have also been fed a narrative that they should not experience, acknowledge, or express their emotions. Therefore, they may be struggling with a lot of things and not seek help,” she said.
Dr. Rose said that while both genders may attempt suicide, men resort to more fatal methods in a bid to ensure their success.
The Senior Clinical Psychologist noted that in comparison to women, men are often left to fend for themselves, allowing the challenges that they may experience to be more difficult.
Consequently, she said that men resort to drugs as a means of coping, which has become a cause for concern.
“So, there is an increase in alcohol consumption, marijuana consumption, and any other drug that they may be able to access,” Dr. Rose said.
“These drugs and substances will reduce healthy coping capacities and increase the likelihood of the exacerbation of a mental illness and place them at greater risk for engaging in behaviours such as suicide,” she added.
Dr. Rose said the situation is not without hope, as a growing number of men are beginning to seek help at mental health clinics across the island.
She noted that this is a positive step towards breaking the stigma around mental health and emotional vulnerability among men.
“There is a representation of the male population who visit our mental health clinics… seeking support on how they can better cope with the challenges and the stressors that they face,” she said.
She urged men to embrace the message that it is okay to seek help and that doing so can lead to positive outcomes.
“No matter how difficult it seems, no matter how impossible it may appear, there is always hope. Sometimes it seems easier said than done, but there are many individuals that have reached out and have walked away with positive experiences,” Dr. Rose said.