CARIBBEAN ADVANCED PROFICIENCY

EXAMINATION
COMMUNICATION STUDIES
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
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TITLE PAGE
CANDIDATE NAME: LAUREN LLOYD

CANDIDATE NUMBER:1000451051

SUBJECT: COMMUNICATION STUDIES

CENTRE: HAMPTON SCHOOL

CENTRE NUMBER:100045

TERRITORY: JAMAICA, W.I.

YEAR OF EXAMINATION: 2023

THEME: SUICIDE

TOPIC: SUICIDE AS A VIABLE PERMANENT SOLUTION ALBEIT THE REELINGE

FFECTS OF THOSE LEFT BEHIND

TEACHER’S NAME: MRS. STACEY BAHADUR

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 4

INTRODUCTION 5

PREFACE 7

REFLECTIVE PIECE 8

ANALYSIS 13

CONCLUSION 16

BIBLIOGRAPHY 17
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ACKNOWLEGDMENTS
Firstly the researcher would like to express thanks the LORD God for providing her the
knowledge, ideas and a chance to finalize and hand in the research paper’
To her Communication Studies teacher for her guidance in writing this internal asessement and
giving tasks to proficiently carry out this research.
Last but not least, she will like to express gratitude to her parents for providing the necessary
materials, words of encouragement and for helping her with the writing of this research paper.
Thank you everyone, your assistance has been greatly appreciated.
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INTRODUCTION

“Suicide is not an answer, it’s destruction.” – Al Green

Back in September 2019, The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Director-General, Dr

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that “Despite progress, one person still dies every 40

seconds from suicide. Every death is a tragedy for family, friends and colleagues, Yet they are

preventable.” It has been discovered by the WHO that the suicide rate is highest in high-income

countries; seconding leading cause of death among young people.

In 2021, the suicide rate in Jamaica has averaged to be 2.40 per 100,000, with men being 3.70

out of 100,000 and women 1.70 out of 100,000.

This portfolio embraces the theme “Suicide” with regards to the topic “Suicide as a viable

permanent solution albeit the reeling effects of those left behind.” The purpose of this portfolio

is to enlighten the experience of people who have lost loved ones to this permanent act and how

they adjusted to this new reality. The researcher utilised a reflective piece, which is based on a

true story to fulfil the purpose of showing the perspective of a second-hand victim, who lost her

friend in a way she least expected, and how she struggled afterwards. The researcher hopes to

reach out to those who contemplate suicide to realise that this ‘solution’ will only pass on their
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pain to those around them and can leave permanent scars.

The researcher found particular interest in this topic because she is a victim herself and

therefore knows and understands how other feels when it comes to a sensitive subject such as

this.The researcher also has connections to people who have lost people in such a saddening

way. In the distant future, the researcher aspires to become a surgical oncologist, and an advocate

for suicide prevention.

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PREFACE
The narrative “Why did you leave us” dictates a summarised version of a true story of a teenaged

girl who lost her friend in one of the most unexpected way possible during the COVID pandemic

back in 2021. This story outlines the first hand experience of a person who has lost a friend this

way, and how it may lead to a mixture emotions, especially guilt, denial and confusion. These

emotions have been highlighted in many areas, allowing the audience to have an idea of the

many emotions that can run through one’s head hours, or even months after someone has

committed suicide.

The purpose of writing this story is to highlight and draw attention to the fact that loosing a

person to suicide does indeed have very powerful effects, as it can leave mental scars and trauma

to the ‘suicide survivor’.The targeted audience is the general public ass not many people know

what it is like to loose someone in this manner in a country like ours, which has one of the lowest

suicide rates internationally.

An appropriate context for presentation of this piece would be in mental health campaigns, youth

meetings and in school meetings. This piece would be best presented in a form of drama or

reading. Utilizing a skit will use artifacts, movements, vocal and facial expressions to emphasize

the emotions in the story and to effectively convey the theme.

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REFLECTIVE PIECE
WHY DID YOU LEAVE US?
We take the saying “you never know what happens in the future” for granted. We often think

about the far future rather than what can happen a second from now.

This phrase hit me the hardest when I was only 16 years old.

The date was March 25th, 2021.

I opened my eyes to greet another Thursday with the sound of my father's car leaving for work

during what seemed to be an everlasting pandemic. It had been a year since this started, and at

this rate, it felt like it had taken residence on its international throne. I lifted my head from my

pillow, slouching over my blanket and unlocked my phone.

7:00 am.

Why mi wake up so early? The school day would start in an hour, and mi nah guh noweh. As a

fifth former, the delusion of having enough time was indeed your best friend.

“Chuh”

I dragged myself to prepare for online school. I got myself downstairs and set up everything I

needed.

"Good morning, darling", my mother sang. She was always in a bright mood since this whole

pandemic started. She firmly believed that this was here to bring families together.

“Morrnning." I replied trying to smile back at her.

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She crunched her eyebrows and placed her hand on her hip. "What class you have dis mawnin?

You stayed inna yuh bed longer than usual, you know." I glanced up..

7:55AM

"Physics…mommy mi tyad as hell."

"Well," she said, coming over to me to pull me into a hug. "You need all these grades fi get in

university and to pursue your dreams."

Bzzt.

"I guess..." I replied precariously. I sighed at the first message of the day.

Morning everyone. Please join zoom with the info below:

Kimoy Watson's Zoom Meeting

ID:*** **** ****

Password: ******

“Why mi haffi do this,” I thought quietly.” Weh mi ago tell mi patients dem? Your sickness is

equal to a + b + c?"

She cleared her throat. "Nuh ignore the fact seh not everyone waah be doctor, Laur; stick with it

fi now. You can ‘lowe’ it inna 6th form."

I actually liked physics, but studying electricity was not my thing; I purposely joined the

meeting 15 minutes late.

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Thursday morning was a lazy morning for everyone. I inspected the participant list. The meeting

had fewer students than usual, but it seemed off. My best friend was here, and so were Rachel

and some others, but where was Ahkeem? He never missed classes.

Matter of fact, I had not seen nor heard from him for a while now.

"Weh di rest of di class?" Ms Watson asked, "It has been fifteen minutes! A forty unu and only

half of the class is present!" she scowled.

"Miss, JPS a tek the people dem light away," said one boy

"And Flow and Digicel too teef. Plan and internet expensive enuh miss." laughed another.

Makes sense.

***

12 NOON

"OK, students," our Religious Education teacher sighed while clasping his hands, "Have a

productive rest of week." I immediately closed my laptop and got up from my new comfort zone

on the living room floor. Finally, a lunchtime. Two more classes, and the day done. I went to get

something to eat, enjoying the advantage of quick access food. But.. I left my phone..

bzzt.

WHATSAPP: SUNDAY HIGH SCHOOL 5TH FORM- 58 NEW MESSAGES

Looks urgent.
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A wah gwaan? Notha janitor dead? Or a teacher? Scrolling up passed what felt like hundreds of

messages, I finally got my answer.

“Good morning students. We, the supervisors, have come with sad news. One of your fellow

students, Ahkeem Blythe, was found dead at his home this morning at about 7:20 am. Students, if

you are experiencing anything, please do not be afraid to speak to someone about it.”

Signed,

Ms Dawes and Mr Palmer, 5th form supervisors.

I stared down at my phone screen in disbelief. Mi cyaa read? Or mi dyslexic? Wahmp? COVID?

Muss COVID…. murder ? Who would do dat? Hungry kill him? Wahmp?

This. Nuh. Real.

“Mommy…. My friend is dead…”

“What?!”

****

The rest of the school day was called off. A report stated that Ahkeem was found in a water tank

at the back of a derelict house. Devastating. A flurry of messages and pictures were unleased by

students. Rumors on top of rumors alongside pictorial evidence were released, however, no one

knew what truly happened that fateful day.

It was then treated as suicide by drowning.

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Weeks passed, and we watched as Ahkeem's body was buried. What an eyesore seeing his

widowed and now sonless mother as she threw her writhing soul across the golden casket,

stricken with grief, yearning for a life so young and full of promise. As for me, many sleepless

nights followed as my thoughts tried to convince me that I could have done something to prevent

this from happening.

Why did you leave us?

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ANALYSIS
‘Why did you leave us?’ is a first-person narrative which addresses the effects of suicide on a

‘suicide survivor’s point of view. This story recounts a chain of events during March of 2021,

and highlights what the main character, Lauren, went through after reading the most unexpected

and traumatic text message she has seen in her life. She fought with emotions such as grief,

confusion and disbelief towards the whole situation, and unfortunately still has those feelings

towards the end of the story, watching her friend being buried.

The author employs a variety of elements of language to display how such a traumatic event can

change one’s life. Two of the elements that were utilised are dialectal variation and

communicative behaviours.

Dialectal variation can be defined as ‘the ways in which languages change and develop, due to a

variety of influences both social and physical, located within groups and stemming from

individuals.’ ( Unknown: What is dialectal variation in communication studies?, 2023,

homework.study.com) The narrator used the Jamaican Standard English, also known as the

acrolect to narrate the events that has occurred throughout the story to an audience who is not

familiar with the creole to have an idea what is going on, and to show professionalism/

education, such as, the Religious Education teacher dismissing the class with: “Have a

productive rest of the week." and the text message. However, it can be acknowledged that the

basilect and the mesolect was also utilized.

The language variety that was utilised the least was the mesolect, as shown throughout the story.

Examples of this shown in the conversation with Lauren and her mother, when she said things

such as: "You need all these grades fi get in university and to pursue your dreams." And
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"Physics…mommy mi tyad as hell. Their use of the mesolect, a mixture between the Jamaican

Creole and the Jamaican Standard English, is due to the socialization and the socio-economic

background. It was also used to show that this family has some form of education and that the

mother-daughter relationship is not strictly formal. Contrary to this, the most used language

variety was the basilect, which is strictly Jamaican Creole, as evidenced throughout the narrative.

Examples of the basilect throughout the story is Lauren’s thought after reading the news: A wah

gwaan? Notha janitor dead? Or a teacher?, to illustrate the Physic’s teacher’s annoyance of

tardiness within the class: "It has been fifteen minutes! A forty unu and only half of the class is

present!" and the two students somewhat mocking the teacher’s grimace: “And Flow and Digicel

too teef. Plan and internet expensive enuh miss.” The use of the basilect in these scenarios were

to express emotions, as the Jamaican Creole has a reputation of illustrating emotions vividly,

especially anger, annoyance and confusion. In general, socialization, socio-economic

backgrounds, emotions and education were the factors that afftected the dialectal variety the

characters used throughout the narrative.

Communicative Behaviours can be defined as how information is transmitted from senders to

recievers when the dominant meaning is not conveyed by the use of words. Throughout this

narrative, it varied from actions (kinesics), paralanguage and the character’s tone(vocaliscs).

Examples of this includes when Lauren woke up and slouched. This would convey exhaustion

and being fed of the COVID-19 pandemic, that was ongoing at the time. This can be considered

as an example of the kinetic form of communication, as the body language alone conveyed the

main character’s mood. She also went on to make ‘chuh’ sound before getting out of bed. This

communicated ‘it is what it is’ or the character pushing herself to get the school day over with. It

can be also seen when mommy clear’s her throat, showing that she knows that the character may
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be thinking of something else and to remind her that her time in 5th form is almost over. Later

down in the story, Ahkeem’s mother threw herself over the casket, expressing intense feelings of

grief as she not only lost her husband, but also the only person who was a living version of him.

The teacher’s scowling showed that she was indeed annoyed, and communicated that this may

have happened on multiple occasions, and the student laughing communicated that he knew this

was going to happen, or he knows that majority of the students were not joining on purpose and

the cellular and internet services were not the problem. The students arriving to class late is an

example of chronemics, as it communicates that the students are not interested in the class or is

too tired, as it was an early morning class. Finally, the many sleepless nights that the main

character experienced is also a communicative behaviour, as it indicated a sense of disbelief and

a strong sense of grief, although a few months has already passed.

In conclusion, the writer used dialectal variations to show a variety of emotions, the realistic

differences bwtween characters in terms of professionalism, formality and social backgrounds

and their behaviours to communicate exhaustion, lack of interest and intense amount of grief.
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CONCLUSION
It can be easily concluded from the internal assessment that communication is necessary for men,

or organisms on a whole to coexist. Communication however is dependent on the elements of it,

such as non verbal and verbal communications to avoid understanding. The topic that was

investigated by the researcher is not really a social issue in Jamaica, but still has it’s effects on

those who has to endure the aftermath. This internal assessment was a summation of four written

sections and oral presentation which focused on the statistics in Jamaica and how it has impacted

different people although it was difficult to emphasize these points due to the idea that not many

people steps up and talks about this. Each section illustrated the impacts and highlighted a story

based of true events to highlight specific communicative elements and criteria. The researcher

hopes that the audience has been enlightened on the topic and gain knowledge on how their

actions may affect the people around them, and what effective communication entails.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Ministry of Health (2020, September 10) Message of the Minster of Health & Wellness Dr,
The Hon. Christopher Tufton World Suicide Preventation Day Working Together to Prevent
Suicide from https://www.moh.gov.jm/presentation/message-of-the-minister-of-health-wellness-
dr-the-hon-christopher-tufton-world-suicide-prevention-day-working-together-to-prevent-
suicide/
The World Health Organization (2019, September) Suicide from https://www.who.int/news-
room/fact-sheets/detail
The Jamaican Gleaner, Cecella Campbell Livingston (2016,August 31) Dealing with Suicide
https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20160831/dealing-suicide