Public Health Isle of Man is extending the Government’s suicide prevention training programme so that more community gatekeepers have the skills to recognise the warning signs of people who may have thoughts of suicide.
Local charity ‘Isle Stand Up To Suicide’ is delivering training to members of the public, corporate groups and a range of frontline and community‑facing roles.
The charity has trained 500 people across the Island since it was founded in 2023 and a two-year agreement with Public Health forms a key part of the Island’s Suicide Prevention Strategy. A training event was held at St John Ambulance in Douglas, yesterday (Wednesday 13 May) during Mental Health Awareness Week.
Isle Stand Up To Suicide’s ‘Question, Persuade, Refer’ programme equips people with the skills to recognise warning signs, engage in supportive conversations, and guide someone to appropriate help.
The collaboration with Public Health will train a cross-section of community and frontline sectors including housing and prison officers, sports coaches, farmers, barbers, hairdressers, Emergency Joint Control Room teams and staff, and volunteers from local charities. The charity’s training is open to anyone.
Paula Dunlop, Chairperson of Isle Stand Up To Suicide, said: “Our aim is to ensure that key groups in our community feel confident in spotting the signs, asking the right questions, and signposting anyone who may be at risk.
“With more support now available across the Island for people experiencing suicidal thoughts, we are creating the right environment to make a real difference in reducing suicides.”
Minister for the Cabinet Office Hon David Ashford MBE MHK, said making suicide everyone’s business remains an important focus of the Suicide Prevention Strategy. “We have made significant progress since the Suicide Prevention Strategy launched, beginning with the pilot programme BarberTalk in 2025 which trained 20 barbers across the Island.
“We said we would collaborate with local organisations for training across other sectors. The partnership with Isle Stand Up to Suicide directly supports the aims of the Suicide Prevention Strategy by strengthening partnerships across society, increasing support for people in crisis, and improving training so communities, businesses and individuals can recognise when someone is struggling.”
Click here to read more about the Island’s Suicide Prevention Strategy
