A new-look Tynwald could set the ball rolling for mental health to be declared a “national priority” and the introduction of a wellbeing strategy.
A petition for redress of grievance by Creena Mason, calling for such moves, has been declared to be in order by the Tynwald Standing Orders Committee.
That means that a Tynwald Member could opt to pick up the petition and ask for a select committee investigation to examine its content and recommendations.
Given the House of Keys General Election next month, the first opportunity would be after the new intake of MHKs is in place.
Wellbeing Crisis
Mason says: “Our community is experiencing a mental health and wellbeing crisis that constitutes a national emergency.
“There is an urgent need for a societal and cultural shift that places greater emphasis on care, compassion, community wellbeing, emotional intelligence, and intergenerational stewardship within the Isle of Man.”
She says some of the challenges have arisen from “social structures that have historically prioritised competition, economic productivity, hierarchy, and material success above emotional wellbeing, human connection, and community resilience”.
Community Values
Her petition calls for Tynwald to recognise mental health and community wellbeing as a “national priority” and explore “social and policy frameworks” that draw upon “nurturing and community focused values often associated with feminine leadership”, while respecting the “dignity, equality, and contribution of both women and men”.
Mason wants to see a national commission or citizens assembly to achieve such a balance between masculine and feminine approaches.
She wants polices to strengthen family life and support emotional literacy, conflict resolution and community cohesion, plus an increased investment in preventive mental health services and efforts to reduce social isolation.
A national wellbeing strategy should be developed that “measures success not solely through economic indicators but also through mental health, social connection, family wellbeing, environmental stewardship, and quality of life”.
Petitions Ruled in Order
In total 23 of the 36 petitions for redress of grievance submitted at Tynwald on July 5 were ruled to be in order. That means a Tynwald member can seek support to set up an investigation into any of those given the nod.
Topics that could be investigated as a result of a petition include protections for local authority members, safeguarding, road safety procedures, policing, constituency boundaries and planning.
The most notable petition to be ruled not in order – and therefore not eligible for a select committee inquiry – was on the subject of offshore wind farms.
The Standing Orders Committee report, including the details of the petitions and rulings on them, can be found on the Tynwald Register of Business.