The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MOESYI) is deeply saddened by the suspected suicide of a 16-year-old Holmwood Technical High School student from Trelawny, which occurred over the weekend and is believed to be linked to bullying.

The ministry said the”heartbreaking incident has shaken the nation and underscores the urgent need to confront bullying, strengthen mental health support, and address the pressures faced by Jamaica’s young people”.

The timing of this tragedy is particularly poignant, coming just days after World Suicide Prevention Day, observed on September 10 as a global reminder that suicide is preventable through awareness, support, and collective action. During that observance, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening student support systems. Considering the recent tragedies, she stressed that this commitment must now translate into urgent national action.

“These deaths are devastating, and I condemn in the strongest terms the act of bullying that has been linked to this most recent loss,” Morris Dixon said. “Bullying is not harmless. It is destructive and dangerous, capable of eroding a child’s confidence and sense of self-worth and sometimes leading to fatal consequences. As a country, we must face this reality head-on. Every child deserves a safe and supportive learning environment, and the ministry will intensify its response to protect them. But we cannot succeed without the active involvement of parents, schools, and communities working together.”

Echoing the minister’s call, Permanent Secretary, Dr Kasan Troupe, emphasised the ministry’s determination to act and highlighted mental health as a pressing national concern.

“The Ministry is deeply concerned about the impact of bullying and the growing challenges of student mental health,” Dr Troupe said. “As we enable our children to cope with the challenges of life, I remind our principals to prioritise the psychosocial activities in our schools, launch the psychosocial week, ensure HFLE is timetabled to ensure the life skills are taught, emphasize the areas of conflict management, help-seeking behaviours, expand or reactivate your peer counselling programme, your parenting sessions and your antibullying campaign. Since 2022, the ministry has engaged counselling psychologists and psychotherapists to provide counselling and mental health support to our students, parents and school staff, free of charge, to augment the in-school counselling services. Principals are being reminded to ensure this support is accessed through the Regional Guidance Unit.” 

The ministry is urging students to speak out and report incidents of bullying, and teachers to remain vigilant and respond swiftly to signs of distress. Parents are also urged to maintain open dialogue with their children, pay close attention to behavioural changes, and seek help if they suspect their child is struggling. The ministry is also urging the wider community to help foster safe and inclusive environments for young people.

Warning signs such as withdrawal, avoidance of school, mood changes, or expressions of hopelessness must never be ignored. Immediate support is available through Safe Spot at 888-723-3776, the CPFSA Child Protection Hotline at 211 or the Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Helpline at 888-NEW-LIFE.

“No child should feel that they are alone or without hope,” Minister Morris Dixon affirmed. “Together, we must ensure that our schools and communities are safe havens of care, support, and encouragement.”