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The Isle of Man Suicide Prevention Strategy 2023 - 2027

About the strategy 2023 - 2027 image banner two wooden figures, with one comforting the other, set against a grey – purple background

The Island's first suicide prevention strategy has been published. The Isle of Man Suicide Prevention Strategy 2023 – 2027 aims to reduce the number of suicides in the Isle of Man by building partnerships across society, providing more support to anyone experiencing a crisis, and improving training for communities, businesses and individuals to help spot when someone is struggling.

The High Level Resource Plan is being laid before Tynwald in October 2023.

The people behind the strategy

'Because the causes of suicide are so complex, to develop the strategy we had to draw together a coalition that was equally broad. Suicide is everyone's business.'

The strategy was developed by the Suicide Prevention Group and key community stakeholders, composed of representatives from: 

  • Across government – Public Health, Home Affairs, Isle of Man Constabulary, Isle of Man Prison, Probation, Drug and Alcohol Team, Mental Health Services, GPs, Safeguarding, Social Security, Education, Wellbeing Partnership

  • Third sector – Samaritans Isle of Man, Motiv8, Victim Support, Graih, Isle Listen, Cruse Bereavement

  • Experts by experience – Bereaved Survivors of Suicide, ‘If it works, it’s right’, Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide

  • Community organisations – Sports groups, People of Colour, MeninSheds, Café Lingo, Christian Churches, Local area coordination

Developing the strategy

The strategy sets the bold long-term ambition of zero suicides on the Isle of Man. It then works backwards; predicting what needs to be in place for this to be a realistic prospect. The first phase of this is focus of this strategy and divided into 5 sections:

Leadership / partnerships, Intelligence, Resilience / awareness / training, Postvention and Safer Care.

The action plan translates the strategy into 20 tangible actions. They range from reforming PSHE in schools, to supporting families and friends after a suspected suicide, from increasing awareness about suicide prevention in the community and workforce, to commissioning a specific service for people experiencing suicidal thoughts. They include working with primary care so people get the best care for depression and the earliest opportunity, and working collaboratively with all service users and their families to develop personal safety plans.

'The strategy is the aspiration. It describes what it would be like if we got to where we want to be. The action plan translates that into tangible actions.'

What’s next

Although this is the first Island wide Suicide Prevention Strategy, there are a lot of suicide

prevention initiatives already in place on the Isle of Man.

  • Public Health has been collecting data on suicide in the Isle of Man for more than 16 years. We also recently did a suicide audit which has given us a lot of contextual detail on the profile of suicide in the Isle of Man

  • The multiagency ‘Suicide Prevention Group’ was established in 2020 with the aim of reducing the suicide and attempted suicide rate on the Isle of Man, and to provide the partnership and coordination to deliver this

  • All Manx schools deliver Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education, which is designed to increase the resilience of our young people; equipping them with the tools to deal with life’s crises

  • Mental Health Services in Manx Care provide a range of interventions from talking therapies, to crisis support, acute care and assistance to recovery. It is in the process of evolving to give more emphasis to helping people earlier

  • There are many excellent third sector organisations on the Isle of Man who help people who are considering or who may go onto consider suicide. Have a look at some of these organisations and hear about the fantastic work they do:

Since the strategy was launched a suicide prevention network has been established consisting of individuals, groups and organisations who are committed to suicide prevention. This network is expected to grow organically as other prevention initiatives take hold.

'If we work together and we support those among us who are struggling, we can eventually reduce and end suicide on the Isle of Man.'

Want to keep up to date

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates on the Suicide Prevention Strategy and to hear more about what government and other organisations are doing to reduce suicides in the Isle of Man.

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