Suicide prevention and related mental health provision on the Isle of Wight
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Healthwatch Isle of Wight (IOW) carried out research into suicide prevention and related mental health provision on the Island in 2019 after a number of people who had been affected by suicide, contacted them. They spoke to people who had attempted to take their own life and their families and also spoke to the families of people who had taken their own life.
They found that people had experienced feelings of helplessness and frustration. However, they wanted to share what they have gone through to ensure that services are improved and that no one else goes through a similar experience. A significant number of people felt that they were sent from ‘pillar to post’ and they did not know who they could turn to for immediate, practical support.
As a result of the themes arising from this feedback, Healthwatch IOW decided to send a survey to GP’s on the Island to ascertain their views on mental health provision on the Island and to establish their understanding of the IOW suicide pathway. The results highlighted that although most GPs felt that they have a clear pathway for people with suicidal thoughts, the mental health services to support such people were inadequate.