CARIMAC Times 2016: The JREAM Edition Journalists Reviving Awareness of what Matters | Page 84

hallucination, delusion, disorganised behaviour,
disorganised speech, and other symptoms.
“The best person to diagnose the condition is
a psychiatrist, but this can only be done after
a medical doctor has completed a medical
assessment with blood investigation to rule
out straight-cut medical conditions, then a
referral is made. [sic]”
Rose insists that if a practitioner is not very
competent on the intricacies of the illness, he
or she can misdiagnose.
“A person might come to you and it seems like
they have depression. They aren’t talking, they
don’t have any interest in any pleasurable
activity; lack of energy ... These are classical
signs and symptoms of depression, but can also
be symptoms of schizophrenia, so you have to
do an in-depth history-taking.”
She further outlined that, although individuals
with schizophrenia may exhibit violent tendencies,
it is not prevalent, but commonly occurs when
the condition is untreated.
“Sometimes the violence is as a result of the
delusion or the hallucinations. The voices will
tell them to do things or sometimes because
their thoughts are so skewed, they think that
somebody is trying to hurt them when that is
not the case. They may lash out at somebody.”
According to the mental health officer, there
are different types of schizophrenia and levels
of severity, but the condition is typically treated
with antipsychotic medication and psychotherapy.
“Depending on what is identified, you might have

behavioural modification like cognitive therapy.
For social issues, you might have a social worker
coming in. Then you might have occupational
therapy where persons need to learn skills.
Some persons might need to be referred to
social agencies to get some assistance.”
Illness and vulnerabilities
Elaine Clarke, 54, was diagnosed with schizophrenia
at age 23. Like Irving, she has battled with
stigma and discrimination, which she said
has prevented her from securing permanent
employment. She shared with CARIMAC Times
that, although she received assistance through
the Programme of Advancement Through Health
and Education (PATH), on various days she is
unable to purchase food.
PATH is a conditional cash transfer (CCT)
programme funded by the Government of
Jamaica and the World Bank. It is facilitated
by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security
and is aimed at delivering benefits through
bimonthly cash grants to the most needy and
vulnerable in the society.
“Many nights mi go ah mi bed without food
because the likkle money [from PATH] mi get
every other month cyaan do. So mi haffi go ah
road every day go beg,” she said.
Clarke said she is repeatedly refused employment
because of her illness.
“Nobody nuh want fi employ mi tru dem know
seh mi sick. Mi used to sell newspaper fi wan
lady and she rob mi and stop mi from work.
She seh mi cyaan manage it, and she same one
used to seh mi sell di paper dem good,” she said.

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