Suicide is “developing into a mental health crisis in Jamaica,” according to Dr Donovan Thomas, president and founder of Choose Life International (CLI), a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to suicide prevention. 

Thomas who recently announced activities for this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day which will be observed on Wednesday, September 10, with the annual seminar at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston, said “While Jamaica’s suicide rate is among the lowest in the world, what is alarming is that the figures are at a high since the year 2000 when 80 persons died by suicide. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the figures have been climbing as the previous average was about 50 per year.”

He cited statistics released by the police for 2024 which show that “67 persons lost their lives by suicide, with 61 of them being men”.

The data released for 2023 reveal that there were “27 reported suicides between November and January, a significant increase compared to previous years.” Of that number 23 were also men.

“This is a very troubling development that requires urgent national attention,” Dr Thomas said. “It is obvious that there are those in our society who have not been coping well with the trauma brought about by the pandemic as well as other socio-economic factors. We need to develop intervention strategies that will give people hope and encourage them to choose life.”

It is this realisation, Dr Thomas said, that has prompted CLI to choose ‘Nation Building Strategies For Suicide Prevention’, as the theme for this year’s seminar.

“We recognise that while it is important for us to continue to work at the local level with schools, churches, businesses and other establishments to raise awareness about suicide prevention, it is also vital for Jamaica to address this issue at the national level. Our citizens must be made aware of the contributing factors to suicide as well as how to get help for those who need it.”

This year’s World Suicide Prevention Day Seminar which is expected to have online participants from over 20 nations with watch parties (or satellites) in countries such as Cuba, Uganda, Peru, Malawi, the Dominican Republic and Colombia; will again feature Lecturer, Suicide Prevention and Trauma Intervention specialist at the Fordham University and Lehman College, Bronx, New York, Dr Roger Ball. A special guest at last year’s seminar, Dr Ball, has been invited to participate again this year by popular demand. A Jamaican, Dr Ball, “is part of a city-wide crisis response leadership team that is mobilised to supportcommunities during the death of students and personnel, including for suicide completions and death by violence”. His work includes “prevention, intervention and postvention for students, staff, parents, administration and faculty.” 

Other presenters include an impressive slate of professionals who will speak on a range of topics including: A National Strategy for Suicide Prevention; Foundations for Suicide Prevention and Intervention; Teenage Suicide and Parasuicide Prevention Strategies; Understanding the Phenomenon of Suicide by Cop; Law Enforcement Suicide: Prevention, Intervention and Postvention; Mental Illness as a Risk Factor in Suicidality and How to Intervene With Suicidal Clients.

Presenters are: Clinical Psychologist Dr Jewell Williams; Consultant Family and Systemic Psychotherapist Karen Carberry; CEO and Editor in Chief of Western Publishers Ltd. Lloyd B. Smith; Pro Vice-Chancellor for Graduate Studies and Research at the UWI, Dr Aldrie Henry Lee; Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Maureen Irons-Morgan; Consultant Psychiatrist Dr George Leveridge as well as founders of CLI Drs Donovan and Faith Thomas.  

The seminar, which will be conducted between the hours of 8:30 am–4:00 pm is sponsored by Jamaica Broilers Group, JMMB–Joan Duncan Foundation, the Jamaica Institute of Financial Services (JIFS), Jamaica Social Stock Exchange, Kleesing and technical sponsor Appfinity.