Paul H. Williams, Gleaner Writer

Wayne Saunders, the mentally ill man who jumped from a ledge at the Kingston Public Hospital, told His Story last year about his challenges. - File

After a month's break, today we publish a few of the email reactions to stories published over the last few months. They were in response to 'The man who jumped from KPH', 'What Frank Grandison saw Part II', 'Jamaican-born pharmacist found cure for AIDS?' and 'Style over cassava, the new Jamaican man'. Next week, more stories.

A depraved society

Hello Paul,

I am reading your article ('The man who jumped from KPH') and I am ashamed and sad today to be a Jamaican woman. Ever since I became aware of the incident, and subsequently heard a vox pop on our local radio (Hitz 92 FM) with people expressing their views with glee that the man should "jump and end the misery", I am still unable to process the depravity of our society.

When a radio personality can laugh at something so obviously wrong and make light of the (behaviour) of the onlookers, it is very sad. This does not begin to even assess what could possibly have become so unbearable to cause another human being (Wayne) to contemplate such an act - that of taking his life.

I write to you to say thank you for taking the time to speak to and listen to a fellow human being who is hurting and is in need, and also because I'm happy to know that someone else out there cares about Wayne Saunders and the other Wayne Saunderses of our society. I hope he is able to get the care and support that is needed.

Mocking the sick

Paul,

I read with much interest your story regarding Wayne Saunders in today's Gleaner (6-9-08). You know, I watched that story on television with grief and horror. It is really sad that persons treat mental illness and persons suffering from mental illness with such a 'backward approach'. Now, to your question: Who will cry for Wayne? I am afraid that no one really will, except for his family, I guess.

Paul, situations like these are not given priority treatment in our society. Why not? The leaders themselves or the powers that be are hardly any different from the ladies who told Wayne to jump from the pinnacle of that building. We are more to ridicule and encourage the bad behaviour.

I have the experience of dealing with someone who has a psy-chiatric disorder. I know the stigma, shame, etc. But I am still willing and am trying my best to adapt to the situation despite the shame, disgrace and humiliation I face daily. My heart really goes out for people like Wayne and many others. You would be surprised to know the so-called 'intelligent' - the remarks, the approach and the attitude they display. Ignorance is so rampant among us.

Regards. Keep praying for Wayne.

A difficult road

Dear Paul,

I write regarding your article, 'The man who jumped from KPH', in The Gleaner of June 9. Let me hasten to say that not only females who are mentally challenged get the full support of family. Lots of mentally challenged males also get family support. One such male is my son, who is over 35 years old.

It is extremely stressful to deal with persons who are mentally challenged. During the over 19 years of mental illness, my son has been seen by five private psychia-trists and numerous ones in the public health system. He has been diagnosed as suffering from OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) by one doctor and schizophrenia by all the others. My husband and I have spent thousands and thousands of dollars to no avail.

Begging, lies, threats, cursing, laziness, lethargy, excessive use of water, money, telephone, bleach, detergents, food, etc., are all part and parcel of my son's daily routine even though he is on medication.

Present us with scientific facts

As a fellow Jamaican, I feel a sense of aggrandisement when I read the claim that a fellow Jamaican has a cure for AIDS.

Although I am not in a position to dispute the claim's validity, I think that in order for there to be more emphasis and interest in the claim you, as a journalist, should gather more scientific data from your source and present to the scientific community. I really would like to see more interest generated around his claim but, of course, the scientific community is not going to act on the facts that you presented, knowing how they work. I am curious about the claim and will do some research on the subject.