For the nineteenth year, the Isle of Wight is above the national average for suicides according to the Office For National Statistics.
The Island's Suicide Prevention, Intervention, Training and Education charity (SPIIOW) has described the numbers as "worrying".
According to ONS figures, from 2017 to 2019 a total of 41 Islanders have taken their own lives.
The current national average for suicides in England is 10.1% but on the Island, it is 11.2%, according to the charity.
But from 2018 to 2020 the charity says there have been 87 successful interventions on the Island by volunteers.
Paul Holbrook, who is a team leader at (SPIIOW) told Isle of Wight Radio on this year's World Suicide Prevention Day (Thursday), volunteers want to remind us their services are available for anyone who may find themselves in crisis - or someone they may know - to reach out to.
"In a two year period, we have had interventions with 87 people- of which all 87 people are thankfully still here in our community and engage with us regularly.
The latest stats which take us up to the end of last year show 11.2% on the Island have unfortunately have lost their lives to suicide, which for the nineteenth year running that puts the Ise of Wight above the national average - the current national average sits at 10.1% but the Isle of Wight is at 11.2% per 100,000 people...It's very worrying, very very worrying."
Paul added:
"However, there are a lot of organisations that work extremely hard and one death by suicide is too many. Unfortunately, some people think reaching out for help is a weakness but it isn't... I do think we and them [mental health services] are going to see an increase in services being called at the tail end of this year as well."
The graph below shows figures from the Office For National Statistics for the Isle of Wight, compared with the rest of England up to 2019.
The charity is currently unable to hold fundraisers this year due to the pandemic so will be focusing on social media this year instead.
Meanwhile, if you would like to volunteer for the charity and can spare five hours a week you can be added to the front line team, training is provided in areas including:
- Safeguarding
- Health and Safety
- Suicide Prevention
- Risk Assessments
- Competence
- First Aid (or higher)
If you need help you can contact (SPIIOW) on 01983 667 247 - or alternatively, you can ring the Samaritans any time of day or night on 116 123.
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