FIFTEEN people died by suicide on the Isle of Wight last year, the latest figures show.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the Island's suicide rate increased for the first time since 2015.

Today (Tuesday) is World Suicide Prevention Day, and Suicide Prevention and Intervention Isle of Wight (SPIIOW) has a message for Islanders — 'it is better to do something than nothing, when doing nothing becomes something.'

Globally, people are raising awareness of the ways in which people can support someone that needs help.

SPIIOW has offered advice on preventing suicide — by starting conversations, taking the time to listen to people, creating supportive workplaces, helping people find support and supporting those bereaved by suicide.

Sarah Adams, of SPIIOW, said: "We are delighted to be members of the National Suicide Prevention Alliance, and appreciate the networking, collaboration and support they and other members provide.

"We also want people to know SPIIOW is based on the Island. When a person feels they want to end their life from suicide, and when time is the key to survival, our frontline team will immediately act to intervene.

"This could be at a person’s home address or other locations across the Island, and secondly by continuing to support those in need.

"We are calling on all Island people to show their support for SPIIOW for a subject that we know has a lot of stigma attached to it.

"Our aim is also to break down the stigma and taboo and for people to talk openly about the way they are feeling."

Anyone interested in learning more about SPIIOW, or joining the on-call frontline team, can email hello@spiiow.org