A Coordinated Spiritual Attack? Suicide and Jamaica’s Youth

In September, Jamaica lost three young people to suspected suicide; a 13-year-old from Lilliput, St. James, a 16-year-old from Holmwood Technical High School, and 26-year-old Tyra Spaulding, a former Miss Universe Jamaica contestant. Each one is heartbreaking, but together, they send a chilling message.

In Tyra’s case, what we learnt after her passing shook many of us. She left behind a string of YouTube videos where she opened her heart about her struggles. They didn’t get much attention when she was alive, just a few hundred views here and there, less than 100 subscribers. But in them, you could see her fighting for her life.

She described her mind as turning against her, waking up each day with thoughts to end it all. Over time, you could hear and see the change. In earlier videos she appeared to be questioning everything while searching for help, as she stated, “I really don’t even know what to do right now. I feel like I need some help or some advice or something,” but by her last upload 6 days ago, it appeared she slowly lost her grip on hope.

Now, I want to be careful here. This is not about blaming the people around her or trying to analyze what she personally went through because no one can fully know that but her. What I do want to highlight is this: what we are seeing across Jamaica is not random. When these suicides happen back-to-back, it is evidence of a coordinated spiritual attack. The Word of God tells us the enemy roams like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). And if you pay attention, you’ll notice it happens in waves; just as how after one high-profile case of abuse or kidnapping, suddenly you hear about more.

This is what makes suicide especially dangerous; it is both mental and spiritual. On one hand, suicidal thoughts are real symptoms of depression, anxiety, trauma, and other mental health challenges, which is why therapy is so important. As The Word reminds us, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). Going to therapy is not a lack of faith; it is faith in action. It is doing the work to fight for your mind. Even Tyra mentioned she was in therapy.

But the other side of this is spiritual. The enemy targets the mind. If he gets a foothold, thoughts spiral. What starts as a whisper of “you’re not good enough” can escalate to “life is not worth living.” The thoughts feel so real, so overwhelming, that people begin to believe there is no way out. That’s why Scripture urges us to “cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

And here’s the heartbreaking reality; many who die by suicide feel like they’ve already tried everything. They go to therapy, they pray, they talk to people, and sometimes that may not help at all or it may just a little. But when the spiral gets deeper, they start to believe nothing works.

That’s why this conversation has to be both in aid of therapy and prayer, both professional help and spiritual warfare. Because this is a battle for the mind, and we cannot afford to fight it on one front only.

As a nation, we need to wake up to this tactic of the enemy. We cannot dismiss it as “just mental illness” or “just a spiritual issue.” It is both. And if we are unaware, then as Scripture says, the enemy will “take advantage of us” (2 Corinthians 2:11).

We also have to recognize the circumstances behind these tragedies. The 13-year-old reportedly took his life after being disciplined for coming home late from school, and the 16-year-old was allegedly being bullied.

As a society, we must watch out for one another. When it comes to bullying and emotional harm, those who cause pain must be held accountable. It is not enough to tell someone who is hurting to “be strong.” Words and actions can cut deeply, and we also have a responsibility to address that harm and ensure it is not ignored. We must also ensure we are not being used by the enemy to carry out his mission.

So today, we pray. We pray for the families grieving these young lives. We pray for anyone in Jamaica right now who is secretly battling suicidal thoughts. We pray that God would flood their minds with peace, silence the voice of the enemy, and show them another way.

And while we pray, we also act. We encourage therapy. We check on our friends. We take every cry for help seriously. Because silence and indifference have taken too many of our young people already.

If you are reading this and struggling with thoughts of suicide, please know you are not alone and help is available right here in Jamaica. Below are confidential, free resources you can reach out to at any time.

• Jamaica Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Helpline – (888) 639-5433

• Ministry of Health and Wellness Toll Free: (888) 663-5683

Facts About Suicide in Jamaica

The suicide mortality rate in Jamaica was about 1.69 deaths per 100,000 population in 2021.

Over recent years, Jamaica has seen a rising trend: in 2024, 67 suicides were recorded; the highest since 2001.

In adolescent populations (ages ~9–19), Jamaica has recorded incidence rates around 1.1 per 100,000.

In past periods, Jamaica’s reported rates ranged between 1.8 and 2.7 per 100,000, with many suicides occurring before age 50.

A MOH & UNICEF study in 2014 found that adolescents and young people accounted for 60% of all attempted suicides treated at hospitals in Jamaica.

In a 2019 U-Report poll in Jamaica, 53% of respondents (youth) said they had considered suicide.