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At 29, Prince Layne never imagined himself working in mental health, but when his mother summoned him, he immediately answered her call.

Last Friday, the St Catherine native was one of just four men out of 31 graduates of a recent psychiatric nursing aide (PNA) programme. PNA assists mental health officers with the care and treatment of clients with mental illness. They also provides support on the psychiatric emergency outreach team by assisting with the physical restraint and care of patients who are at risk for injury to self or others.

"My mother is a nurse and I have always looked up to her, and she asked me if I wanted to assist her and I said sure. She is a mental health nurse as well," told THE STAR after the graduation ceremony at the Summit Hotel in St Andrew.

The increase in the complement of psychiatric nursing aides is part of a broader strategy to strengthen community mental health services in Jamaica. Layne sees his role as critical in providing help to persons with mental health challenges.

Graduates of the PNA programme spent four months immersed in various aspects of mental health care. The 640-hour course equips graduates to provide essential care for those living with mental health disorders, promoting well-being, and helping patients achieve a better quality of life.

"My aim is to help to keep people stabilised on a baseline where they feel safe to express themselves to each other. In our country, I don't think people express themselves enough, so I think mental health is an important field to bring our expertise to, so we can raise our children better and just take care of themselves," Layne said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie praised the graduates for choosing to "get their hands dirty". He, however, made it crystal-clear that there would be zero tolerance for mistreating patients.

"In executing the duties that you now have been tasked, there should be a personal level of compassion. I was at an infirmary, and there was a lady there who opened her hands and boxed the nurse aide, and all the nurse aide did was cool her down. There are challenges, and we know the road is going to be rough; and if you don't have the stomach, then don't come out of the gate," the minister said.

He warned that anyone caught abusing any resident will face the full extent of the law.