The emotional roller coaster brought on by hurricane Melissa, while more profoundly felt by communities directly in its path, has also affected the entire country one way or another – locally and in the diaspora. This has prompted all to spring into action.

The coping mechanisms displayed prove that “what does not kill you, makes you stronger”. This also supports German Philosopher Friedrich Nietzche’s idea that, “overcoming hardship builds resilience, wisdom, and inner strength, turning challenges into growth opportunities,” but this only works if one learns and adapts, otherwise suffering can lead to trauma (Friedrich Nietzche, 1888).

Hurricane Melissa was not choosy. It was an equal opportunity destroyer. Whether it was business, tourism, health, education, agriculture, buildings, utility infrastructure, airports, wharves, trees; anything above ground was fair game for the take down. If it wasn’t the wind, then the rain took hold. As for humans, field and caged animals and birds, towns and rural communities, literate and illiterate, disciplined and undisciplined, culturally appropriate or otherwise, Melissa targeted all in its path and further afield, killing over 30 persons with some still unaccounted for.

Fear, chaos, and emotional turmoil were the order of the day, with the west suffering most from death and destruction. If severe trauma and suffering remain unaddressed, this can result in lasting vulnerabilities for those affected.

The signs and symptoms being displayed will dictate the level of intervention required. As the saying goes, “he who feels it, knows it,” so, those who seek to assist must approach affected communities with care and sensitivity. Intervention should not follow a “one size fits all” method.

For example, how and who are listening to the children? Their feelings are usually multifaceted resulting from separation from or loss of family, home; disconnection from teachers and school friends and other daily routines such as meals and a safe space for play in communities.

Disrupted routines also affect older adults, employers, workers, and businesses that support everyday life.

Devastation, regardless of its cause, creates fear and chaos and challenges the coping mechanisms and ultimately the resilience of individuals, communities and the country at large. Sustaining mental health and wellness must be a priority.

Mental health and wellness: Foundation for coping and resilience

For clarity, “… health is a state of well-being, whereas wellness is a state of living a healthy lifestyle. Health refers to physical, mental and social wellbeing. Wellness aims to enhance well-being” (rvcbi,nim.nih.gov).

The mental health of which we speak loosely means a person’s condition regarding their psychological and emotional well-being. Simply, it is about how people think, feel and behave. It is not just about mental disorders. It concerns people’s daily experiences in relationships and physical health.

Hurricane Melissa has laid down a marker for determining the issues that people face in communities and therefore those responding must develop a road map for mitigation leading to coping mechanisms and resilience. Solutions are possible only if those for whom programmes are designed understand and accept them.

Mental health interventions must lead to the building of resilience; hence programmes will be specific to the diagnosis of individuals or groups. Some people may have had pre-existing conditions -stress issues, or medical illnesses – prior to the hurricane, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but whose treatment regimen and support systems were disrupted or lost due to the hurricane.

The foundation for coping and resilience begins with strategies for supplying basic needs such as water, food and shelter. Next is connecting with communities to reduce isolation. 

Fear and chaos after the hurricane must be minimized by effective mental health interventions, which must be developed and delivered by experts in the field and not by the untrained offering potions.

What is required is a comprehensive roadmap for coping and building resilience. This strategy must be designed to facilitate recovery and achieve specific objectives in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. In summary, a carefully designed phased approach that focuses on age-appropriate safety, physical recovery and emotional well-being is essential to foster long term resilience and preparation for the future.

 Of course, a roadmap must be buttressed by adequate resources which require the collaboration of the government, public, the private sector, NGOs, and the international community. Jamaica will recover and learn lessons for long-term planning.    

Dr. M. Audrey Stewart-Hinchcliffe, CD, JP, BA, M.Sc., DBE (h.c.) is the Chairman of the Manpower & Maintenance Services (MMS) Limited Group