Tufton calls for 2026 to be ‘Year of Mental Wellness’
Published:Saturday | December 13, 2025 | 12:06 AMChristopher Thomas/ Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has proposed that 2026 be dedicated to mental wellness, as Jamaicans seek to recover from the psychological toll of Hurricane Melissa, which devastated the island on October 28.
Speaking at an online press conference on Thursday, Tufton offered an update on the state of Jamaica’s health sector in the wake of the storm, which caused extensive infrastructural damage across western Jamaica and affected several other parishes.
“In terms of mental health, the team has been working with the Pan American Health Organisztion [PAHO] and other players to structure a long-term mental health response in the affected areas [affected by Hurricane Melissa]. Psychosocial support is going to be absolutely critical going into this season and in the months beyond next year,” he said.
“Maybe the year 2026 should be declared a mental wellness year for Jamaicans, and indeed for those who have been impacted by Melissa. We have to find a way to coin that phrase and make it a standard narrative, where it is no longer an exception in terms of service, but it is mainstreamed in the most significant way,” he added.
Tufton said he had been in discussions with UNICEF regarding the activation of a national mental-health response programme to support those in need of psychosocial intervention, including children and other vulnerable groups.
“I just met a short while ago with the regional director of UNICEF, who is here on a two-day visit and tour, and collaboration continues to be discussed concerning how we strengthen, among other things, the mental health response for children, and we are going to be pushing on that in a significant way,” he said. “The priorities include activating mental health response as a national mechanism, reaching out to vulnerable groups and shelters, high-risk communities, and caring for healthcare professionals who are very important to this process.”
In November, the National Council on Drug Abuse’s director of treatment services, Dr Kristen Robinson Barrett, warned that Jamaica was likely to see a rise in adverse mental-health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, owing to the destruction and loss of life caused by Hurricane Melissa.
At the same time, it was reported that Jamaica’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Hotline fielded 768 calls in October, 135 more than in September.
Meanwhile, chief medical officer, Dr Jacqueline Bisasor-McKenzie told Thursday’s briefing that the ministry’s national mental-health response mechanism would prioritise the parishes hardest hit by the hurricane, particularly high-risk communities in St James, Westmoreland, Hanover, Trelawny and St Elizabeth.
“We and our partners are sitting together to plan how it is that we will reach the population right across the island, particularly in the very heavily affected parishes, to provide the support that is needed. We have trained over 1,250 persons to deliver psychological first-aid messages, and our target is to train over 3,000 persons,” said Bisasor-McKenzie. “Our target is to have over 200,000 interactions for persons in the targeted areas, in the heavily affected parishes.”
Persons seeking assistance with mental-health concerns may call the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Helpline at 888-NEW-LIFE (888-639-5433) or text ‘Support’ to the U Matter Chatline at 876-838-4897.