The number of Islanders taking their own lives has increased steadily since 2005 – with a sharp rise in suicides last year. Sixteen Islanders committed suicide last year, compared to a previous average of about ten.
Mental health services are now being reviewed and improved and a major programme to help health professionals detect and treat those with psychological problems is being rolled out.
Dr Rosemary Geller, Jersey’s Medical Officer of Health, said: ‘The number of suicides has been increasing over recent years and we saw a big rise in 2008. We are now studying the figures closely and examining what needs to be done to bring down the number of Islanders committing suicide.’
