Problems faced by children with mental health issues and learning disorders
There are only 20 child guidance clinics spread across the country that provides counselling for potentially tens of thousands of children who need the service.
Some clinics, especially those in rural Jamaica, only see children once per month due to a severe shortage of staff, which includes child psychiatrists, social workers and psychologists.
Loose collaboration between the responsible agencies, ministries and departments of government, including the ministries of justice; health and wellness; education, youth and information; and labour and social security.
Poor families are forced to join a long waiting list in their quest to get counselling or other interventions for their children.
Child service agencies and ministries need to work better in the system of care – clinicians have to go into the field, more mental health teams are needed.
Gang violence sometimes prevent children from attending counselling sessions, which are sometimes held in the nearest community centre to allow them to attend.
Children who are counselled, especially those with PTSD, are often traumatised again as they go back to the gunfire and gang violence in their communities. These children are often kept awake at nights and fall asleep in class during the day. They are called lazy by teachers who do not understand.
Children with mental health issues are often teased by their peers.
They find solace with their buddies.
They are sometimes neglected and abandoned by their parents.
Those with PTSD relive the trauma daily.
They are often recruited by drug lords and area dons.
They frequently become fullfledged gang members, especially those who express that they are emotionally dead.