A Manx mental health campaign group is calling for greater government action on suicide prevention as it prepares to stage a public protest outside Tynwald this week.
ManxPACT has announced plans for a peaceful demonstration on Prospect Hill in Douglas from 12pm to 2pm tomorrow (October 20), saying it wants to highlight concerns about suicide prevention services on the island and push for what it describes as clear, measurable improvements.
The protest follows the publication of the Social Affairs Policy Review Committee’s report into suicide, which was presented to Tynwald in July.
Suicide Prevention
According to the report, the Isle of Man’s suicide rate was higher than England’s in 13 of the 16 rolling three-year periods between 2006-08 and 2021-23. The latest figures showed a rate of 13.9 deaths per 100,000 population on the Isle of Man, compared with 10.7 per 100,000 in England.
The report also highlighted differences in spending on mental health services, noting that around 9% of health funding on the Island is allocated to mental health services, compared with 13.8% in the UK.
ManxPACT founder Juan Moore said the group wanted to demonstrate public concern over the issue.
He said: “We want to bring our Island’s community together and demonstrate the depth of feeling on this emotive subject. It is heartbreaking to repeatedly hear local people’s negative experiences of the Island’s suicide prevention mechanisms.
“We’re calling for greater action from government. We want clear, measurable objectives that can be assessed with transparency. Charities and support groups can’t be expected to save everyone who is falling through the cracks in the system.”
The group says its campaign is focused on a number of specific proposals, including increasing funding for mental health services to match UK levels, establishing community hubs in each region of the island and introducing a duty clinician scheme for the crisis team.
Mr Moore added: “We are calling for funding to match UK levels, a community hub in each region and a duty clinician scheme for the crisis team.”
Organisers are encouraging anyone affected by suicide, mental health issues or those wishing to support improvements in services to attend the demonstration.
