Expanding Psychological First Aid Services to Support Communities in Crisis after Hurricane Melissa

Kingston, Jamaica, 10 April 2026 (PAHO) - In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the resilience of many Jamaicans was tested on a scale that most had not experienced before. With its powerful Category 5 winds, the storm did not only leave behind damaged homes and infrastructure. It also disrupted daily life by displacing families and placing an enormous emotional burden on communities already grappling with loss and uncertainty. For many, including healthcare workers on the frontlines, the weight of caring for others came while they themselves were picking up the pieces and trying to rebuild their own lives.

Against this backdrop, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Jamaica Country Office, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) and the University of the West Indies (UWI) Department of Psychiatry, facilitated a series of training sessions designed to strengthen psychological support services across the island.

Between December 2025 and March 2026, ten face-to-face training sessions on Psychological First Aid (PFA) were delivered to a wide range of frontline providers. Each six-hour session not only offered technical guidance but also created a space for reflection, connection, and healing by equipping participants with practical skills to support individuals experiencing distress in the wake of the hurricane.

In all, 337 participants were trained, including representatives from the MOHW, the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), other government ministries and departments, as well as community-based and faith-based organizations. Recognizing the scale of need following Hurricane Melissa, the initiative also included a Training of Trainers (ToT) component, ensuring that knowledge would not remain contained but would extend far beyond the group of participants. To ensure this, training hubs were subsequently established in St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, and St James to deepen local capacity and sustain support in the parishes most affected.

Through simulations, scenario-based learning, and creative expression, participants actively engaged with the core principles of PFA. Acting, singing, and artistic activities brought to life the simple but powerful framework of "Look, Listen, and Link," the foundation of Psychological First Aid. Many described the sessions as both engaging and restorative, noting that they gained tools not only for service, but also for personal coping.

Efforts to strengthen coordination were also advanced through an orientation for new members of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Health Cluster. Co-led by the MOHW and PAHO/WHO, the cluster brings together 14 organizations to ensure a coordinated and sustained response. What began as weekly meetings has now become a consistent routine, with partners coming together through regular situation reports and coordinated planning. As of the end of February 2026, approximately 28,000 people in affected parishes have received MHPSS support.

For communities in parishes like St Elizabeth, where the impact of the hurricane was particularly severe, the need for mental health support remains robust. In fact, Dr. Janique Baldwin-Miller, Regional Psychiatrist for the South Region Health Authority, estimates that approximately 25,000 persons may require Psychological First Aid, with 15,000 already reached through ongoing interventions.

In reflection, Dr. Patrice Lawrence-Williams, Advisor for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at the PAHO/WHO Jamaica Country Office, noted that while each training carried its own energy, the quality and consistency of the information ensured that all participants left with a clear and shared understanding of how to provide compassionate, effective support.

The sessions were facilitated by Professor Wendel Abel of the UWI Department of Psychiatry, who also serves as a part-time consultant with PAHO/WHO, and were made possible through emergency funding, including contributions from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

As training continues and new facilitators are being trained, the initiative stands as a reminder that recovery is not only about rebuilding infrastructure, but also about restoring a sense of stability, dignity, and hope. In strengthening Jamaica's capacity to provide timely mental health and psychosocial support, these sessions are helping to ensure that, even in moments of life-altering disruption, no one has to navigate life's challenges alone.