ManxPACT raises concerns over suicide rates and mental health provision on the Isle of Man

Community group publishes new report

A report published by ManxPACT has raised significant concerns about suicide rates and the provision of mental health services on the Isle of Man, calling for greater engagement with people who have lived experience of mental ill health and clearer political accountability for outcomes.

The document is authored by Juan Moore, the founder of ManxPACT. The group describes itself as a peer-support network rather than a charity and says it does not receive public funding.

Drawing on coroners’ verdicts, government reports, international comparisons, media coverage, and anonymised personal testimonies, the report presents a detailed picture of suicide and mental health provision on the Island over recent years

According to figures cited in the report, 14 people died by suicide on the Isle of Man in 2023.

Based on population size, this equates to a rate of approximately 16.47 deaths per 100,000 people.

ManxPACT notes this is higher than the global average reported by the World Health Organization for the same year, which stood at 9.8 per 100,000.

The report also states that, when averaged over the last five years, the Isle of Man has lost around 13.6 people per year to suicide, a rate of roughly 16 per 100,000. By comparison, the most recent figures for England and Wales show a suicide rate of 11.4 per 100,000 in 2023.

ManxPACT argues that, while caution is needed when comparing small populations with larger jurisdictions, the figures nonetheless indicate a persistent and serious issue.

The report is critical of how suicide data is presented in official Island reports, particularly the use of rolling averages, which it says can mask year-on-year impact. It highlights a Tynwald debate in October 2025 in which the Island’s higher suicide rate compared with the United Kingdom was acknowledged but not substantively discussed.

It also points to the Isle of Man Suicide Prevention Strategy, which was passed unanimously in Tynwald, but launched without dedicated funding. One recommendation within that strategy was the creation of a Recovery College, but was later discontinued during cost-saving measures within Manx Care and has not been reinstated.

ManxPACT questions whether the absence of ring-fenced funding has limited the strategy’s effectiveness, but acknowledges that responsibility for suicide prevention spans multiple departments and agencies.

The report emphasises the role of the Coroner of Inquests, writing that only deaths formally ruled as suicide have been included in its analysis. It raises concerns about the length of time some inquests take to conclude, describing the delays of more than a year as ‘distressing’ for families.

While the report does not detail individual cases, it urges policymakers to review coroners’ findings collectively to identify recurring themes and areas for improvement, particularly in cases involving people who had contact with state services.

A substantial portion of the report is devoted to anonymised accounts from people with lived experience of mental ill health, as well as parents and carers. These testimonies describe difficulties accessing timely support, long waiting lists, and inconsistent care pathways.

Concerns are raised about crisis response arrangements, with some contributors reporting that support felt limited during periods of acute distress. Others describe challenges within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, including delays, changes in staff, and difficulties accessing specialist therapies.

The report stresses that these accounts are not presented as statistically representative, but as qualitative evidence intended to highlight potential gaps between policy intentions and patient experience.

ManxPACT references official evidence showing that referrals to CAMHS have risen significantly since 2020, with government data indicating an increase of around 96 percent in caseload. It also highlights research linking mental health difficulties with wider factors such as poverty, housing insecurity and social isolation.

The report argues that pressures on mental health services cannot be viewed in isolation and should be considered alongside broader social and economic conditions on the Island.

Using modelling from UK research bodies, the report estimates that the economic and social cost of mental ill health to the Isle of Man could be in the region of £434 million per year. This figure includes lost productivity, health and care costs, and reduced quality of life.

ManxPACT acknowledges that these figures are extrapolated and should be treated as indicative rather than definitive, but says they demonstrate the potential long-term cost of underinvestment in prevention and early intervention.

The report concludes by calling for closer involvement of people with lived experience in the design and evaluation of mental health services, alongside clearer lines of responsibility within government. It also suggests that workplaces, public bodies and the media all have a role to play in supporting mental wellbeing and reducing stigma.

While the report is critical of existing arrangements, it states that its primary aim is to contribute constructively to discussion and encourage sustained action to reduce suicide and improve mental health outcomes on the Isle of Man:

Manx Radio has approached Manx Care for comment.

Meanwhile, Paul Renshaw told Manx Radio his journey with mental ill health began in his late teens. But he was hospitalised in 2018 for six months at which time he struggled to understand what had happened to him.

He claims the treatment he received was insufficient, describing it as largely being medicated.

However, he sought the help of ED Space - a charity for "men to come together and discuss their feelings and struggles to combat the silent epidemic of poor mental health on the Island".

Since seeking support from ED Space, he says he feels as though he has "come out the other side".

He praised the group highly, saying it "literally saved my life":

Picture credit: Paul Renshaw, after recently completing a half-marathon.

If you have been affected by any of what you have read or heard, support and advice is available HERE.

Public Health Isle of Man responded to Manx Radio's request for comment:

The ‘Report into the mental health and suicide crisis on the Isle of Man. 31 January 2026’ by ManxPACT highlights some very important themes about supporting people who are struggling in our community. We thank Mr Moore and ManxPACT for the time they have taken to prepare their Report and for the passion and dedication with which they continue to campaign. We welcome the opportunity to provide feedback in this area.

The Suicide Prevention Group is a multi-agency working group made up of government departments, third sector organisations and those bereaved by suicide. We take the mental health and wellbeing of the local population very seriously and much work is already underway to support this. 

In 2023, we published the Suicide Prevention Strategy, unanimously endorsed by Tynwald. Since that time, work to implement the strategy has continued through the Suicide Prevention Group to carry out tangible actions in achieving the strategy’s objectives. 

Some of these actions include:

• ‘Mental Health First Contact Practitioner’ service pilot in two GP Practices will now be in every GP Practice from April 2026
• Redesign of the existing Crisis Response Home Treatment Team (CRHTT) function
• DHSC Mandate and Wellbeing and Mental Health Strategy focus on reducing waiting times for Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), social and green prescribing
• Barber Talk suicide prevention training delivered to 20 local barbers 
• Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) training delivered by Isle Stand Up To Suicide to 169 individuals from companies, schools, rugby clubs, housing officers and young farmers. 
• Development of a Postvention Service (organised response following a suspected death by suicide) delivered by The Children’s Centre
• Eight additional Cognitive Behaviour Therapists at Manx Care with seven of them now in dedicated roles delivering cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• Isle Listen Talk Service introduced in Island schools
• Recruitment of six additional clinicians, to proactively address the existing the CAMHS waiting list

With full commitment and support from the Isle of Man Government, we continue to work with partners across the community to develop plans to reduce suicides in the Isle of Man.

We collect meaningful data in three year rolling averages per 100,000 population to help us identify trends and draw comparisons across jurisdictions. This helps us to build a local profile and determine the best course of action for the future.

We respond to local incidents which have an impact on the wider community by working together to ensure individuals are supported and that several options for support are available and accessible.

Suicide is everyone’s business. By working in partnership, we are committed to making a valuable impact on reducing suicides and improving wellbeing of individuals in the Isle of Man.