Health ministry asks Jamaicans to flag relapsed mental health patients as mobile units resume

Mobile mental health teams are once again moving across the country after disruptions caused by Hurricane Melissa, and the health ministry is calling on Jamaicans to alert authorities when they notice familiar patients showing signs of relapse.

That appeal has come from Dr Kevin Goulbourne, who heads the mental health and substance abuse services unit at the Ministry of Health and Wellness. He pointed members of the public to a round-the-clock helpline as the easiest first step.

"We have a helpline that they can call which is available 24/7, seven days per week - 1888-NewLife - and tell them if they know of someone that would have missed an appointment and they are concerned the person has relapsed. The person will reach out to the team member and notify them about that particular case and they will respond to the situation," Goulbourne told THE STAR.

"They can reach out to the hospital, too, which is an easier way to get information to a contact person," he added.

Goulbourne acknowledged that community-based mental health work stalled briefly in the wake of the hurricane, which displaced large numbers of residents and disrupted routine clinic visits.

"There were some hiccups initially with transportation, but they (staff) made efforts to provide community-based services. Can't say how long that lasted for, but now persons are coming back to clinics and they would have been picking up now," he said.

While he could not give an exact count of how many mobile units are fully back in service, Goulbourne said health workers refused to let care lapse during the worst of the storm's aftermath, with several using their own vehicles to reach patients at home.

"They didn't want the person to relapse and end up in hospital, so they did home visits for persons who either missed the appointment or regularly would have been in the community receiving treatment," he said.

The director cautioned anyone who encounters a patient behaving erratically against trying to manage the situation alone, warning that aggressive responses tend to escalate matters.

"Don't get confrontational with them or angry with them or even try to coerce them. When you use aggressive terms with them, it may cause more of a conflict. So, call the mental health team or the police, because the police are also trained to deal with them under the Mental Health Act," he said.

Under that legislation, officers are empowered to safeguard persons of unsound mind, escort them to hospital or arrange for a mental health officer to evaluate them while in custody. The Act also permits the detention of individuals considered a danger to themselves or others, and provides for shelter and care for those living with mental illness.