Westmoreland councillors sound alarm over surge in mental health cases

SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — Councillors in the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation (WMC) are calling for an urgent expansion of mental health awareness programmes across the parish, following reports of a surge in mental illness cases in the area.

While no numbers were presented Steve Morris, Westmoreland’s chief public health inspector, told Thursday’s meeting of the WMC that there has been an increase in deployment of mental health case workers to communities across the parish to provide counselling and raise awareness.

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This followed an intervention from Councillor Ian Myles (Jamaica Labour Party, Little London Division), who argued that families urgently need the tools to recognise early warning signs and secure professional help for struggling relatives.