The parents of 42 new entrants to high school who completed the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations held earlier this year are being urged by the Chief Executive Officer of Bellevue Hospital, Suzette Buchanan, to “guard your children’s innocence …  as 70% of those at Bellevue speak of trauma in childhood.”  She advised parents to remain vigilant and committed as “children need the presence of their parents.”

Ms Buchanan was speaking recently at the 27th annual Back-to-School Awards presentation organised by Manpower & Maintenance Services Limited (MMS) through the Manpower Foundation (MMSF), at which the children of the company’s employees entering high school for the first time are recognised for their achievement and presented with gift packages, including school supplies. The event was held at the Company’s headquarters in Kingston.

Addressing both the students and their parents under the theme, “The Journey Continues: Mental Wellness, Building Confidence and Resilience,” Ms Buchanan stressed the importance of mental and physical strength. She said, “Life will test confidence, resilience, and emotional strength.” She reminded them that “the celebration should not only be about the students’ academic achievement but about preparing healthy minds,” as secondary school is the beginning of a new journey with many changes.  She cautioned the students to “protect” their mental health as “a strong future begins with people whose minds are protected.”

The Bellevue CEO said, “There will be excitement, but there may also be fear, anxiety, and depressive disorder”, as there can be pressure to fit in, to perform and to make their parents proud. She reminded the students, “Feeling pressure does not mean you are weak … if you feel overwhelmed, say something. If you feel sad for a long time, say something, and if you are being bullied, say something.”  

Ms Buchanan asked the parents to remember the boys as “they are not getting sufficient attention.” She noted that “of the 460 patients at the Bellevue Hospital, 300 are men,” and “the suicide rate is 40 per cent higher among men than women. Men are not taught to show emotions,” as they are expected to be strong. “Sometimes without meaning to, we turn love into pressure,” she said. “Our job [as parents] is not only to raise successful children but to raise whole children. Check the child, not only the grade. Question their feelings, their safety and whether they are feeling pressured.” She said, “Results matter, but they are not the child’s identity.”

She reminded the group that “mental wellness is not the absence of problems; it is having healthy ways to manage them.” The greatest gift to children, Ms Buchanan said, is to help them to develop the “confidence to try, the resilience to rise and the safety to say, I am not okay, and I need help. That is strength, wellness and preparation for life.”

The group was also addressed by the Chairman of Manpower Group Limited, Mrs M. Audrey Stewart-Hinchliffe, who said, “For 27 years, the Back-to-School Awards have been a meaningful celebration of academic achievement, perseverance and the promise of a bright future for our children. It is deeply fulfilling that each year Manpower can lead an initiative that recognises and encourages the accomplishments of young Jamaicans.” She applauded the hard work and dedication of the students, as well as the unwavering support of their families. MMS’ CEO, Don Gittens, also encouraged parents to “give the students as much support as possible as they move forward,” and commended the awardees on their achievement.

From the group, this year’s top achievers are the daughter of Sakhina Hanson, Sophiyah Hanson- Rodriques, who will be attending Campion College and the son of Loroina Lawes, Kejhaun Rose, who is headed to York Castle High School.