With growing concerns about mental health, the Government will be pursuing a robust intervention to support that issue, which has been plaguing many people across the country.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness made that disclosure during the third annual National Day of Prayer, held under the theme ‘Teach Us True Respect for All’, at the National Arena in Kingston.
While wishing church leaders, worshippers, his Cabinet, among others a ‘Happy New Year’ sequentially, as he expressed gratitude that God has spared our lives to see another year, he reflected on those who have lost their lives.
“There is nothing wrong in seeking happiness, absolutely nothing and sometimes there are persons who have given up on the pursuit of happiness. It is very sad reading the papers, or seeing the reports of persons who no longer have any value for their life or the lives of their loved ones,” said Holness.
“It is always very hurtful to me when I see these reports of someone saying, ‘I am going to end your life and I am going to end my life’. What could have happened to them to have lost the fear of God to respect lives? Something went wrong,” he said.
His statement came a day after a Mandeville couple Keith and Stephanie Ellis was found dead in a suspected case of murder-suicide at their home on Bonnitto Crescent in the parish.
While the prime minister refrained from making a specific reference to that case, he said more instances of people killing themselves and taking the lives of others are developing.
