Dr. Alcon Barnett calls for training ordinary Jamaicans to recognize warning signs and support those at risk.
Dr. Alcon Barnett, clinical psychologist at the Western Regional Health Authority, is urging Jamaica to expand suicide prevention training among ordinary citizens who can serve as ‘gatekeepers’—people trained to recognize warning signs and connect at-risk individuals to professional services. Speaking at Thursday’s World Suicide Prevention Day Webinar 2026, Barnett outlined how gatekeeper programs work in other jurisdictions, equipping non-professionals with the skills to offer emotional support and reduce the stigma surrounding suicide.
Barnett emphasized that gatekeepers need not be mental health professionals. Instead, he advocates for training people across multiple sectors—church leaders, government workers, police officers, and even service workers like barbers and bartenders—to raise awareness and identify those in crisis. Such programs, he noted, help normalize conversations about suicide and remove the shame that has long prevented Jamaicans from seeking help or discussing the issue openly.
The clinical psychologist highlighted how deeply suicide stigma runs in Jamaica’s cultural fabric. Historically, families kept suicides quiet, and some religious leaders refused to perform funeral rites for those who died by suicide. This silence has persisted for decades, though Barnett stressed that the stigma is not unique to Jamaica but reflects a global challenge.
According to the 2026 Global School-Based Health Survey conducted by the National Council on Drug Abuse, the issue affects young Jamaicans significantly: three out of every ten students aged 13 to 17 seriously considered suicide and made plans for it, while one in four reported attempting suicide. Girls accounted for 36.6 per cent of those who reported considering suicide, compared to 23.1 per cent of boys. Despite these figures, Jamaica maintains one of the world’s lowest suicide rates at 2.1 per 100,000 population.
Barnett urged friends and family to watch for behavioral changes—withdrawal from bathing or social activities, excessive drinking, reckless driving, or unusual silence—and to approach the person with genuine curiosity and, crucially, patient listening. He stressed that listening itself is a powerful intervention, often the greatest gift one person can offer another in crisis.
Jamaica observes World Suicide Prevention Day annually to raise awareness and reduce stigma. The country’s suicide rate remains comparatively low globally, yet youth suicide ideation and attempts are significant public health concerns, prompting mental health professionals to advocate for community-based prevention strategies.
Suicide prevention and mental health support are critical issues across the Caribbean, where cultural stigma, limited mental health resources, and high rates of youth suicide ideation mirror Jamaica’s challenges. Gatekeeper training models could be adapted across the region to strengthen community-based mental health responses.
Written & Edited by Orlyn Edwards. Published by Caribbean Air Force Media.
Category: News · Island routing: Jamaica