This year the Island heads into the traditionally more depressing months of January and February with many businesses closed, while families and friends are separated, due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Dr Patricia Tumelty, executive director of Mind Jersey, said that there were a number of concerns for Islanders at this time.
‘Many people on low incomes are worried and anxious about the financial impact on their families, while carers for people with mental illness are worried about the long-term impact,’ she said.
‘Parents of children, especially those with additional needs, are concerned about disrupted education.
‘There are people with long-term mental illness who are missing their already limited means of socialising, while residents in care homes are missing their usual routines, especially friends and family visits.’
She added: ‘A key message must be that asking for help is a positive thing to do. If you are in doubt or worried about your own or someone else’s mental health speak to a friend, a family member, your GP, or any of the may services available.’
Andy Le Seelleur, of suicide prevention charity Thrive, said evidence and anecdotes suggested that suicide rates had not increased in the past year.
But he urged Islanders to be aware of signs, to seek help where necessary and not to be afraid to approach those they feel are at risk.
‘Suicide is very rarely one issue or caused by one incident, so what lockdown might cause is an exacerbation of other issues, which are risk patterns for suicide,’ he said.
‘It could be increased drinking, substance misuse or a job loss. There’s not been an explosion of suicides in Jersey – that’s what I’ve heard on the grapevine. But there is a concern that January, February and March are typically high months for statistics of suicide as stress generally increases.’
He added: ‘If you’re worried about somebody, you have to have the conversation. For a lot of people, there is a misconception that if you talk about suicide that it increases the risk.
‘But if you ask them about it, they’re much more likely to admit it and then seek help. Don’t be afraid to ask someone about it twice if necessary.’
The pandemic encouraged a number of support organisations to band together to form the mental-health network earlier this year.
Network member Jake Bowley, a clinical psychologist, said it acts as a ‘federation’ to pool resources and get people to the help they need sooner.
‘We’ve all got the same agendas, which is to support people. You have to help people know what’s out there and get the support that suits them,’ he said.
‘What we want is to have as few “front doors” to services as possible, which is a challenge. But as long as all the front doors are connected, if someone goes and rings Liberate they might then say actually this person’s more like a Mind Jersey case.
‘We also want to avoid duplication of services.’
The network was launched in October and more information can be found online at a specialised page at gov.je.
