Post by montegobayjobs on Oct 9, 2020 17:20:05 GMT
Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton says health officials will be launching a mental health response programme to tackle depression as a number of Jamaicans are struggling with the condition during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The programme will be manned by "an essential group of volunteers and professionals".
Tufton said the volunteers are trained to help create forms of comfort to persons in their communities who are suffering because of the isolation associated with COVID-19 restrictions.
There will be a mass media campaign to promote mental health and the prevention of mental illness, and persons can call a mental health hotline, 888 NEW LIFE, to talk about their struggles.
High death toll
"And if we need to do a follow-up after that assessment, then it will be done," he said.
Tufton cited COVID statistics that the high death toll from the virus among older persons "does weigh heavily on the minds of those who are in their senior years".
Tufton said that according to a recent study, it was confirmed that 89 per cent of senior citizens are leaving home less than before the first stay-at-home order in March. Twenty per cent reported in-person visit to relatives.
"This means that even their loved ones are no longer visiting out of a genuine fear that that they may be transporting the virus to them in their setting. But the consequences of not visiting is the loneliness and the depression and other negative impact," he said. Tufton, however, noted that the older population are not the only ones showing signs of mental health challenges.
Consultant psychiatrist Dr Earl Wright suggested exercise to help break the stress cycle.
"Walking to the gate or even moving around the house on a regular basis is good. What we are really talking about is maintaining physical distance and increasing social connections and managing the stress around us," he said. Jamaica now has 7,273 COVID cases. There have been 128 deaths.