A major Isle of Wight policy forum will today (Thursday) consider plans aiming to make suicide prevention ‘everybody’s business’.
The Health and Wellbeing Board will be updated on the progress of the Isle of Wight Mental Wellbeing Plan (2023 – 28) and Suicide Prevention Action Plan which, when published in 2023, said 12 per cent of the Island’s population suffered from depression.
Mental Wellbeing Plan
County Hall’s director of public health Simon Bryant will present a report setting out key achievements of the Mental Wellbeing Plan this year including making ‘better data, intelligence and insight’ on the Island’s mental health available, work programmes, lessened stigma around the subject and a ‘supportive conversations’ training offer for frontline staff.
A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Council said,
“Over the last year, over 100 people working across voluntary, community organisations and frontline services such as housing have received training in mental wellbeing and suicide prevention, enabling them to have confident conversations to support people and refer people for help when they need.
“Supporting people with their mental health must involve more than one person or organisation.
“It starts with us all having open conversations about mental wellbeing and equipping ourselves with the skills to help people who might need extra support.”
The Mental Wellbeing Plan was developed with partners including the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, Age UK Isle of Wight, The Samaritans, HM Prison Service and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary.
Suicide Prevention Action Plan
Mr Bryant’s report also sheds light on policies implemented as part of the Suicide Prevention Action Plan this year: suicide bereavement and workplace suicide prevention and postvention services provided by the charities Amparo and Havant and East Hants Mind, the commissioning of the Solent Mind Self Harm Support Hub, better monitoring of suspected suicides and suicide prevention training.
Partners across the system will work together to promote mental wellbeing
The paper, signed by Mr Bryant and cabinet member for adult social care and public health Debbie Andre, said,
“The Mental Wellbeing Plan (2023-2028) was launched in Spring 2023 and demonstrates how partners across the system will work together to promote mental wellbeing, support the people of the IOW to have the best mental health they can and reduce inequalities in mental wellbeing across certain groups.
“The focus is not on mental ill health services, but on the actions required to support people before they might require services or reach crisis point.
“The Suicide Prevention Plan outlines how we will work with system partners to support earlier intervention and prevention of suicides.
“It is the main mechanism for coordinating actions identified under priority four within the IOW Mental Wellbeing Plan; supporting our ambition for suicide prevention to be everybody’s business.”
The Health and Wellbeing Board will meet at County Hall on Thursday from 9.30am.
Councillor Debbie Andre has been contacted for a comment.
Article edit
10am 30th Jan 2025 – IWC comment added
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
