Suicides on the increase

Thursday 1st July 2010, 2:59PM BST.

Dr Rosemary Geller says the figures are 'very concerning'

THE number of Islanders committing suicide has more than trebled in just four years, new figures have revealed.

Twenty-five Islanders took their own lives last year – compared to just eight in 2005.

Health officials say they are baffled at the sudden increase and have asked UK experts to investigate whether last year’s deaths were linked to a common factor.

The number of suicides began to rise four years ago after remaining constant for about a decade.

Dr Rosemary Geller, Jersey’s Medical Officer of Health, said that the figures were ‘very concerning’ but added that the department was doing everything possible to tackle the problem.

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