The Jamaica Constabulary Force is probing three separate suspected suicides that occurred on Thursday in St Catherine and St Andrew. The cases highlight continued concerns over Jamaica’s growing mental health crisis, particularly among men.
Police are investigating three suspected suicide cases reported on Thursday, involving men of various ages and circumstances. The incidents took place in two parishes and have renewed national discussions on mental health and public safety.
In the first incident, 47-year-old barber Paul “Julius” Elliot was found hanging from a balcony in Conners district, St Catherine, on Thursday morning. A bedsheet was reportedly used.
Later that evening, St Andrew South police responded to a report from Sixth Street in Greenwich Town, where 23-year-old Kevon Hamilton was discovered hanging from a ceiling with a curtain around his neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a third, unrelated case, a businessman reportedly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a residential complex in St Andrew. The identity of the individual has not been officially released.
While no public statements have been issued by family members, local residents who found Mr. Elliot described the discovery as both shocking and tragic. Police have not confirmed whether any notes were left or if prior mental health challenges were known.
Authorities continue to investigate each incident separately.
Jamaica has recorded a rise in suicide rates in recent years. According to a February 2025 report from the Jamaica Observer, 67 suicide deaths occurred in 2024—the highest number since 2001.
Statistics from the Jamaica Constabulary Force show that men are disproportionately impacted. Between 2021 and 2024, 217 of the reported suicide deaths were men—over eight times the number involving women. The data reflects a growing public health concern in the country.
Investigations into all three cases are ongoing. The incidents have prompted renewed calls for increased mental health resources, particularly for men, and expanded access to community support programs.
These tragic cases expose the urgent gaps in Jamaica’s mental health response system. As suicide rates continue to climb—especially among men—there is a clear need for improved outreach, intervention, and long-term support services that can help prevent such losses. Public awareness must be matched with action.
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