In western Jamaica, the soothing patter of rainfall has transformed into a trigger for profound psychological trauma among schoolchildren. The memory of Hurricane Melissa’s devastating landfall on October 28, 2025, continues to haunt educational institutions, where students now respond to precipitation with screams, trembling, and paralyzing fear rather than playful excitement.
Educational leaders from multiple institutions describe heartbreaking scenes during stormy weather. Principals Garfield James (Little London High School), Venesha Brown-Gordon (Salt Marsh Primary School), and Oraine Ebanks (Green Pond High School) report that their students exhibit severe trauma responses when rains begin. These schools number among five educational institutions selected as beneficiaries of the 2026 Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run, an initiative aiming to raise $150 million through a February 15th charity run to fund hurricane recovery efforts.
The psychological impact extends beyond directly affected regions according to Kirk Morris, President of the Jamaica Association of Guidance Counsellors. He notes that students in eastern parishes—many exposed to harrowing social media footage—have also required professional psychological support, demonstrating the hurricane’s far-reaching emotional consequences.
Official statistics from the Ministry of Education reveal extensive intervention efforts: over 50,000 students and 4,000 teachers in northwestern Jamaica have received psychosocial support through 2,086 counseling sessions. The ministry has additionally provided assistance to 167 regional staff members and more than 9,000 parents, creating a comprehensive support network for affected communities.
At Green Pond High School, Principal Ebanks describes implementing flexible teaching approaches that allow for spontaneous counseling moments when trauma surfaces. The school’s damaged infrastructure—leaking classrooms and missing roofs—compounds the psychological challenges during rainfall. Educators actively work to maintain normalcy through extracurricular activities while acknowledging that heavy precipitation instantly triggers traumatic memories, particularly among students from severely impacted areas like Catherine Hall and Westgreen.
Similar challenges confront Salt Marsh Primary School, where the institution’s proximity to a flood-prone gully intensifies student anxiety. Acting Principal Brown-Gordon recounts children as young as twelve trembling during storms while asking teachers whether Hurricane Melissa is returning.
The psychological toll extends beyond students to encompass educators and parents. Little London High School reports cases of depression among students that exceed the guidance department’s capacity, highlighting the need for ongoing mental health support despite limited resources.
Minister of Education Senator Dana Morris Dixon confirms the ministry operates a comprehensive psychosocial support program utilizing both virtual and in-person sessions. This effort has been bolstered by 36 private clinicians, psychiatric experts from The University Hospital of the West Indies, and support organizations including UNICEF, Children First, and the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
While counselors across Jamaica continue providing support, educational leaders acknowledge that normalization will require sustained time and resources, with rainfall serving as a persistent reminder of the catastrophic hurricane that forever changed their students’ relationship with weather.