A cross-sector panel of male mental health and corporate professionals is calling for expanded mental health support programmes in schools, workplaces and communities, warning that without early intervention and sustained support, the growing mental health crisis among men will continue to impact families, communities and productivity.
Men shared their insights at a recent men’s mental health panel hosted by the Rotary Club of Trafalgar New Heights, held under the theme, ‘Let’s Break the Stigma’.
The group, which included psychologists, corporate leaders, and senior public officials, said the current system is falling short, adding that targetted support systems are critical to breaking long-standing stigmas and providing safe spaces for men to access help.
“We have to reach our men,” stressed the Reverend Jayson Downer, associate forensic psychologist, who was the main speaker for the session.
Describing mental health as a lifelong process that shapes one’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being, Rev Downer said that it cannot be overlooked. He noted that supporting men’s mental health is not just about intervention, but about creating consistent spaces where men feel safe to be vulnerable, seek help, and heal without fear of judgment.
“There are varying things that cause men to be stressed and because of the masculinity that is purported when [males are] born, and the type of unhealthy masculinity that dominate our society, the space has to be created in order for men to be able to express themselves because right now it’s really not looking good,” he shared.
He pointed to research data indicating that one in eight men report struggling with mental health challenges, most commonly depression or anxiety. He said while the figure is higher for women (about one in five) men are significantly more likely to die by suicide, even though more women attempt it. He explained that this is often because men tend to choose more lethal methods and are less likely to seek help or talk about their struggles, largely due to stigma and societal expectations of masculinity.
“That [conversation] is what is lacking in many instances. We have to change that narrative in order to save [our males],” he said.
As part of the solution, he called for more dedicated mental health specialists in schools to help boys develop healthy emotional outlets from an early age.
“The government needs to invest more resources in psychosocial education. In other words, we need to get more mental health professionals into everyday spaces like schools. A ratio of 500 students to one guidance counsellor just doesn’t work, because guidance counsellors aren’t trained in cognitive behavioural therapy. We need more qualified professionals in that space who can intervene early. When we normalise boys talking to mental health professionals from as early as basic school, that habit will stay with them as they grow,” he said.
K. Darron Turnquest, counselling psychologist and director of people at Flow Jamaica, stressed that workplaces prioritising mental health with the same seriousness as physical health will be just as important going forward.
“Government and the private sector both have a responsibility to create healthy working environments for employees,” he said. “There must be equal and equitable policies that allow men to transform their families while also transforming themselves. Whether that’s through employee assistance programmes or paternity leave, the goal should be to make your employee value proposition so ‘sexy’ that people and their families want to work there.”
Turnquest also recommended wider access to community-based support systems, making services more approachable and available outside of formal institutions. Backing those calls, Dwayne Bailey, vice president of public procurement at the Port Authority of Jamaica, said that along with better access and structural changes, there also needs to be a change in the way people think, so it becomes normal for men to ask for help and feel free to express their emotions.
“One of the things we need to normalise is for men to understand it’s ok to be talking, it’s ok to not have it perfect, it’s ok to not have it all together and there’s a space to help you get back to or get to that healthier state of mind,” said Bailey. “Spaces exist, but often times we won’t use it, so we have to normalise the conversation and that includes understanding that gender affairs doesn’t just mean women’s affairs.”
Echoing the sentiment, Charlton McFarlane, CEO of the Universal Service Fund, added that society needs to “reframe the type of expectation we put on men and boys”.
“The expectation is as a man you must be this and you must be that, but we really need to assess the extent to which that is negatively affecting how men process things and how we cope with things,” he emphasised.
Orick Angus, financial services manager at CIBC Caribbean, another of the panellists, acknowledged that he isn’t always one to open up about his own mental health challenges, but agreed that it is necessary for men to embrace their vulnerability and express their emotions.
“I believe one of our biggest advantages here in Jamaica and the Caribbean is our sense of community. You can call your neighbour and talk to someone,” he shared. “We have to be intentional about finding people who can help us, who can mentor us, so that we can then pass that support on to the younger generation.”
The men’s mental health panel discussion was held as a lead-up to June, recognised as Mental Health Awareness Month, highlighting the urgent need to prioritise mental health and tackle stigma, especially among men.