Mental Health Awareness and Counseling Practice of Jamaican Clergy: An Exploratory Study.

Clergy play a vital role in mental health care in Jamaica but little is known about their mental health awareness and practices. Thirty five Anglican and Baptist clergy were compared to 24 helping professionals and 67 community members using purposive sampling. Clergy's awareness exists with spiritualized beliefs about the etiology of mental illness as well as with effective and unethical counseling practices. Findings indicate the need for more training in mental health sensitization and practice.

Archival data review of intimate partner homicide-suicide in Jamaica, 2007 - 2017: focus on mental health and community response.

OBJECTIVE: To identify social and behavioral patterns and mental health concerns associated with intimate partner homicide-suicide (IPHS) in Jamaica through an analysis of media and police reports. METHODS: This was an archival data review of police records and print, radio, and television reports of IPHS incidents from January 2007 - June 2017 in Jamaica. The 27 cases found were qualitatively analyzed using pre-identified codes and open coding to generate themes and patterns. RESULTS: A prevalence rate of 0.1 per 100 000 was determined. In all cases, males were the homicide-offender. Sociodemographic patterns associated with IPHS incidents-age, personality traits, choice of weapon, and time of occurrence-were consistent with previous findings. Common triggers were offender obsession, sexual jealousy, and fear of separation. Despite reports of mental health concerns in both male and female partners, neither the couples nor community members sought help prior to the homicide-suicide. CONCLUSION: These findings demand a change in cultural attitudes toward domestic disputes and mental health concerns, and a redefining of the community's responsibility in IPHS. The warning signs associated with IPHS should be part of existing violence and suicide prevention programs.

Archival data review of intimate partner homicide-suicide in Jamaica, 2007 – 2017: focus on mental health and community response

[ABSTRACT]. Objective. To identify social and behavioral patterns and mental health concerns associated with intimate partner homicide-suicide (IPHS) in Jamaica through an analysis of media and police reports. Methods. This was an archival data review of police records and print, radio, and television reports of IPHS incidents from January 2007 – June 2017 in Jamaica. The 27 cases found were qualitatively analyzed using pre-identified codes and open coding to generate themes and patterns. Results. A prevalence rate of 0.1 per 100 000 was determined. In all cases, males were the homicide-offender. Sociodemographic patterns associated with IPHS incidents—age, personality traits, choice of weapon, and time of occurrence—were consistent with previous findings. Common triggers were offender obsession, sexual jealousy, and fear of separation. Despite reports of mental health concerns in both male and female partners, neither the couples nor community members sought help prior to the homicide-suicide. Conclusion. These findings demand a change in cultural attitudes toward domestic disputes and mental health concerns, and a redefining of the community’s responsibility in IPHS. The warning signs associated with IPHS should be part of existing violence and suicide prevention programs.

[RESUMEN]. Objetivo. Identificar los patrones sociales y de comportamiento y los problemas de salud mental asociados con el homicidio de la pareja íntima seguido de suicidio (HPIS) en Jamaica mediante el análisis de los informes de medios de comunicación y policiales. Métodos. Revisión de datos de los archivos policiales y de los informes publicados en la prensa escrita, la radio o la televisión sobre HPIS en Jamaica entre enero de 2007 y junio de 2017. Los 27 casos identificados se analizaron cualitativamente mediante códigos preidentificados y códigos abiertos adicionales a fin de generar temas y patrones. Resultados. Se determinó una tasa de prevalencia de 0,1 por 100 000 habitantes. En todos los casos, los autores del homicidio fueron hombres. Los patrones sociodemográficos asociados con los incidentes –edad, rasgos de personalidad, arma empleada y momento del suceso– coincidieron con los encontrados en incidentes anteriores. Fueron desencadenantes frecuentes la conducta obsesiva del agresor respecto de su pareja, los celos sexuales y el miedo a la separación. A pesar de la presencia de informes sobre problemas de salud mental tanto en los hombres como en las mujeres, ni las propias parejas ni los miembros de la comunidad buscaron ayuda antes del homicidio seguido de suicidio. Conclusión. Estos hallazgos exigen cambiar las actitudes culturales hacia las disputas domésticas y los problemas de salud mental, y redefinir la responsabilidad de la comunidad ante estos incidentes. Las señales de advertencia asociadas con el HPIS deben ser parte de los programas de prevención de la violencia y el suicidio.

[RESUMO]. Objetivo. Identificar os padrões sociais e comportamentais e as questões de saúde mental associados aos homicídios por parceiro íntimo seguidos por suicídio (HPIS) na Jamaica, a partir de análise da mídia e de inquéritos policiais. Métodos. Revisão de inquéritos policiais e de relatos publicados na imprensa escrita, no rádio ou na televisão sobre HPIS na Jamaica de janeiro de 2007 a junho de 2017. Os 27 casos identificados foram analisados qualitativamente utilizando códigos pré-identificados e codificação aberta para gerar temas e padrões. Resultados. Foi detectada uma taxa de prevalência de 0,1 por 100 000 habitantes. Em todos os casos, os autores do homicídio eram homens. Os padrões sociodemográficos associados aos incidentes de HPIS – idade, traços de personalidade, arma utilizada e momento do evento – coincidiram com os encontrados em estudos anteriores. Obsessão por parte do agressor, ciúme sexual e medo da separação foram gatilhos frequentes. Apesar dos relatos de problemas de saúde mental em ambos os parceiros, tanto do sexo feminino quanto do masculino, nem o casal nem os membros da comunidade procuraram ajuda antes do homicídio seguido do suicídio. Conclusão. Estes resultados indicam a necessidade de mudanças culturais na atitude frente a disputas domésticas e problemas de saúde mental e de uma redefinição da responsabilidade da comunidade quanto a HPIS. Os sinais de alerta associados a HPIS devem ser contemplados em programas de prevenção da violência e do suicídio.