Every October 10, the world pauses to reflect on the state of mental health—but for many, the struggle is a daily reality that never pauses.

On this World Mental Health Day, we are reminded that mental well-being is not a privilege; it is a universal right.

In Jamaica, the rising tide of suicide among our youth and professionals has become an urgent national concern. Behind every statistic lies a life once filled with potential—a story silenced too soon, often because our society still views mental health through the lens of shame and silence.

The recent tragedies that have gripped our headlines are not isolated incidents; they are reflections of a deeper crisis of disconnection, stress, and unspoken pain.

As emergency physicians, we stand on the frontlines and see the toll that emotional distress takes—not only on patients but also on families, colleagues, and first responders themselves.

We must create safe spaces—in our hospitals, schools, workplaces, and homes—where people can speak freely without fear of judgment or ridicule. Healing begins where understanding lives.

We can no longer afford to treat mental illness as invisible or secondary. It is time for national leadership, public education, and sustained investment in mental health services that are accessible, affordable, and compassionate.

This year’s theme, ‘Mental Health is a Universal Right,’ calls us to act with empathy and urgency. As a nation, we must commit to replacing stigma with support, silence with conversation, and fear with hope.

Let us remember that mental health is everyone’s business—because a Jamaica that nurtures the mind is a Jamaica that strengthens the heart of its people.

Dr Kurdell Espinosa Campbell is the President of the Jamaica Emergency Medicine Association (JEMA)