Life
JAM | Oct 29, 2024

Bellevue Hospital’s appeal for compassion, social support

/ Our Today

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

Bellevue Hospital, the nation’s foremost psychiatric institution, is urging the public to reflect on the importance of social support for those living with mental health conditions as Jamaica observes Mental Health Month.

The hospital related the story of Jane Doe, a long-time patient who recently passed away, noting that it embodies the struggles of many individuals who have found themselves dependent on Bellevue as their only haven. Jane Doe’s life—and her passing—have brought to light the ongoing need for compassion, community, and care for those who remain unseen and unheard.

The patient was admitted to Bellevue Hospital in 1979 and for over four decades, it became her home. She was discharged multiple times but had nowhere to go, no family to contact, and no community to return to. Bellevue was the only constant in her life, the place where she found stability.

According to the psychiatric institution, Jane’s life illustrates the reality faced by many who, due to a lack of social support, remain institutionalised far longer than they should. Despite her own struggles, Jane was known for her gentle spirit, often seen helping fellow patients and offering a comforting smile to staff members who cared for her. She left a mark on everyone who knew her, even if her own story was one of loneliness and abandonment.

“Jane’s story is not unique, and that is the heartbreaking truth. There are hundreds of people at Bellevue who have no one outside these walls. We have patients who were brought here as children, who have spent their entire lives within this institution,” Bellevue Hospital CEO Suzette Buchanan shared.

Bellevue Hospital CEO Suzette Buchanan

“Jane’s passing is a reminder that we, as a society, must do better. We must be more compassionate [and] more willing to support those who are struggling. Mental health care isn’t just about medication and therapy, it’s about love, empathy, and understanding,” she continued.

Other Jane Does

The hospital currently cares for 400 social cases — individuals who continue to live at Bellevue not because they need clinical care but because they have no family or support system to reintegrate them into society. Their stories are varied but share a common thread of isolation.

One woman has been a resident of Bellevue since she was 12 years old and is now in her sixties. Another was brought to the hospital by her sons 22 years ago; they never returned to visit or check on her well-being.

Without external support, these patients face a future of prolonged institutionalisation with limited hope of ever rejoining their communities.

“This is a deeply social issue,” said Acting Director of Nursing Services Trecia Williams Morrison.

“We see the toll that prolonged institutionalisation takes on our patients every day. They lose touch with the world outside, and their sense of self-development gradually erodes. Social support is not just beneficial; it’s essential for recovery. We need families to step up, communities to engage, and for all Jamaicans to remember that those living with mental health conditions deserve our care and attention.”

A dignified farewell

Jane Doe’s passing has brought the Bellevue community together in shared sorrow and solidarity. Unlike many patients who are buried with a simple, often lonely pauper’s funeral, Jane will receive a dignified farewell, thanks to the generosity of Peter Perry, proprietor of Perry’s Funeral Home Ltd.

Bellevue Hospital CEO Suzette Buchanan leads pall-bearers in carrying the casket of Jane Doe, a patient who passed away at the psychiatric institution after living there since 1979.

Perry first met Jane at Bellevue’s staff award gala in January 2024. When he heard of her passing, he offered to cover the full cost of her burial, valued at $1.3 million.

“Every person deserves to be laid to rest with dignity, and I’m honoured to help give Jane that,” he revealed.

“Bellevue was her home for many years, and it’s touching to know that she will be surrounded by those who cared for her. She may not have had family in the traditional sense, but she had a community here, and that matters.”

Bellevue Hospital’s message during Mental Health Month is clear: mental health conditions are not just medical issues; they are deeply intertwined with social dynamics that require empathy, community, and sustained support.

Jane Doe’s life, and the lives of many like her at Bellevue serves as a reminder of the shift needed in how society perceives and supports those facing mental health challenges.

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