Follow us on S ocials: Facebook and Instagram When 18‑year‑old Ghanaian student Nana Agyei left home to pursue his education in Europe, he carried the dreams of a young man determined to build a future far brighter than his beginnings. Today, those dreams have been violently interrupted, and the circumstances surrounding his death remain clouded by contradictions, silence, and a disturbing lack of transparency. No parent sends their child to school expecting to receive them back like this. Latvian authorities reported that Nana fell from a fifth‑floor window, suggesting an accident or possible suicide. But the more details emerge, the more this explanation collapses. Nana had reportedly been bullied for months. Just three days before his death, he was allegedly poisoned — a claim supported by a doctor’s report his family released publicly. He was hospitalised, destabilised, and discharged the same day. Within 24 hours, he was dead. Tiktok News Reporter Dylan Pag...
The Madness We Ignore: Suicide, Stigma, and Silence in Jamaica
In Jamaica, mental health isn’t just misunderstood—it’s dismissed. “A mad man dat,” we say, brushing off breakdowns with a shrug and a side-eye. “Low him, him mad.” But what happens when the madness is real, raw, and fatal? Tyra Spaulding, a radiant soul and former Miss Universe Jamaica contestant, died by suicide at just 26.
Advertisement
She had been pleading for help online, posting videos where she said, “My mind is trying to kill me”. She wasn’t hiding. She was fighting. And still, she died. The Jamaica Defence Force recently released suicide statistics that should shake us: 67 deaths in 2024, the highest in nearly 25 years. Sixty-one of those were men. And yet, the national conversation remains dimmed, drowned in stigma and silence.
Then there’s June Dixon, aka Rosalee—a TikToker whose disturbing comments about harming children sparked outrage. Should someone like her be in mandatory care? Absolutely. But instead of intervention, we get viral views and moral panic. Where is the accountability? Where is the protection?
Mental illness in Jamaica is treated like a spectacle, not a sickness. We watch from the side-lines as people unravel. We whisper, we judge, we laugh. But we don’t help. And when help is available—helplines like 888-NEW-LIFE or Safe Spot—it’s buried beneath shame, fear, and cultural resistance.
Advertisement
We need to stop dimming the light. We need to stop pretending that therapy is “white people ting” or that suicide is just weakness. We need to stop letting influencers weaponize trauma for clout while vulnerable people slip through the cracks.
This isn’t just a crisis. It’s a cultural reckoning.
So what now?
Mandatory mental health screenings in schools and workplaces.
Public education campaigns that dismantle stigma.
Legal consequences for those who incite harm online.
Accessible, affordable therapy—not just for the elite, but for every Jamaican.
Let’s stop saying “low him, him mad” and start asking “how can we help?”
Notice alot of Caribbean parents, don't say I love you or apologise , so imagine what most of these men went through as boys, alot they cant talk about or express. Sadly.
We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts, stories, or questions below. Whether you're vibing with the music, reminiscing about a festival, or just passing through—your voice adds depth to ALL ANGLES UK. Let’s keep the conversation flowing
Its true , its like men not suppose to express themself or else dem weak.
ReplyDeleteWould love to see a change in Jamaica for teal though.
ReplyDeleteNotice alot of Caribbean parents, don't say I love you or apologise , so imagine what most of these men went through as boys, alot they cant talk about or express. Sadly.
ReplyDelete