Last month, the States accounts revealed that Jersey Talking Therapies, which provides free counselling services for Islanders with mental health problems, had been flooded with contacts.
From those contacts, 1,170 referrals were made to the service, with patients enduring long waiting times.
One Islander recently revealed that she may need to wait more than a year for treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder following a severe vehicle crash as the service comes under increasing strain.
Other Islanders have also spoken to the JEP about the frustrations they have experienced with Jersey’s mental health services.
Health Minister Richard Renouf said that he was worried about the degree of mental health issues in Jersey, much of which he feels is caused by stressful lifestyles.
‘I’m very concerned that Jersey does have a good standard of living but people are under pressure because they play hard and they work hard as well,’ he said.
‘What we need to do is address this when they have needs at the lower to moderate levels, before they become more severe.’
Deputy Renouf said that he believed the general wellbeing of Islanders needs to improve to help stop mental health issues developing. ‘I think it’s not just Health and Social Services but everybody who has a role to play in this,’ he said.
‘You are seeing it more with firms providing wellbeing initiatives and I think communities need to do more as well.
‘There was the wonderful Jersey Together campaign at Christmas launched by the JEP. People should be aware of things like people being isolated at Christmas. In the country parishes this can be a particular issue.’
He added that his department was working on a wellbeing strategy as a priority and he believes that physical wellness helps boost mental health.
‘Jersey Sport have a large role to play in the strategy and we will be trying to get people to take moderate levels of exercise to help get their mental health in good order,’ he said.
‘We would also like to provide more funding for organisations like Mind Jersey and the Jersey Recovery College.
‘Mental health has been named as one of our strategic priorities. I hope that the States recognises that and votes in favour of funding it in the next budget.’
