Jamaica has recorded a troubling mid-year surge in suicides at the same time as general numbers for 2025 stay decrease than final 12 months, in keeping with new knowledge launched Sunday by the Jamaica Constabulary Drive (JCF).
Between January and September, the nation logged 44 suicides — a 16.9 per cent lower from the 53 circumstances recorded throughout the identical interval in 2024. However the JCF warned that the decline masks a worrying sample, with suicides rising sharply in current months.
“Suicides had been constantly decrease within the first six months of 2025 in contrast with 2024, however the second half of the 12 months has seen a reversal,” the JCF stated in an announcement. July recorded eight suicides, a 33 per cent improve over July 2024, whereas August and September posted respective will increase of 20 and 25 per cent.
The JCF additionally highlighted a geographic shift within the knowledge. Final 12 months, spikes had been seen in St James, St Elizabeth, St Catherine South, and St Thomas. This 12 months, nevertheless, St Catherine North has emerged as a hotspot, with 4 circumstances reported in July alone.
“This underlines that suicide shouldn’t be a uniform nationwide subject, however typically displays localised socio-economic or group pressures,” the assertion famous.
Gender disparities stay stark, with males making up the overwhelming majority of circumstances. Nevertheless, police stated there are indicators of a slight uptick in suicides amongst girls. The warning follows last week’s death of 26-year-old Tyra Spaulding, a former Miss Universe Jamaica contestant, who was discovered hanging in her house. Police are investigating her demise as a suspected suicide.
“This indicators the necessity for pressing gender-sensitive interventions, as girls’s experiences with self-harm typically differ and could also be linked to home, relational, and social components,” the JCF stated, calling suicide a “broader public well being and social problem” reasonably than solely a policing matter.
The pressure urged public well being companies, social staff, educators, group leaders, and faith-based teams to strengthen outreach and counselling companies to stem the pattern.
A complete of 67 suicides had been reported in Jamaica in 2024, the very best determine since 2000, when 77 circumstances had been recorded. Earlier years noticed 66 circumstances in 2023, 63 in 2022, 50 in 2021, 43 in 2020, and 58 in 2019.
People fighting psychological well being points are inspired to name the Psychological Well being and Suicide Prevention Helpline at 888-639-5433 for confidential help.
