The number of suicide verdicts on-island rose considerably in 2020 from the year before.

There were 22 inquests last year which determined the cause of death to be suicide, according to the Coroner of Inquests. That’s a stark increase from six in 2019.

These numbers are from the year that the inquest was concluded, not necessarily the year that the person died.

Retired MLC David Cretney said that this number is worrying. Last year, Mr Cretney published a suicide prevention report via the Tynwald social affairs policy review committee, which contained 13 recommendations.

Public health director Dr Henrietta Ewart confirmed that her team is examining the reasons behind the increase and what can be done to help prevent suicide.

In September 2020, Chief Minister Howard Quayle said the Council of Ministers’ social policy and children’s committee agreed to the establishment of a suicide prevention group.

Mr Cretney told the Examiner: ’It’s a worrying trend. The pandemic has had an adverse effect in the UK and it’s likely to have here too.

’Only about 20% of people who decide to take their own lives are engaged with mental health services here.

’There are people who aren’t engaged at all, sadly, and we know that there are substantial weaknesses within the mental health services in terms of people having to wait [a long time to be referred].’

Mr Cretney continued: ’I’ve been highlighting this issue since 1993 when I first raised it in Tynwald - it’s something which, when you have dealt with people who have subsequently taken their own lives, or whether you’ve dealt with people whose family are affected on a permanent basis because a family member has taken their own lives, you can’t help but feel strongly about the subject and want to do what you can to help them.’

Mr Cretney said that since the early 1990s, the stigma around mental health has shifted in a positive way.

He said: ’I think in terms of stigma, males in particular are much more open to discuss and talk about [mental health] nowadays than people of my generation were.

’At least now some people are going to talk to schools and various charities are highlighting mental health which has got to be a good thing, so that it’s seen as more of a medical condition and something which can be temporary. It can help show that life can improve and there is help available.’

The Public Health Directorate will present what’s being done for suicide prevention in Tynwald in early March.

A response to a Freedom of Information request revealed that there were eight deaths registered as suicide in 2019, 12 in 2018, eight in 2017 and six in 2016.