91Èȱ¬

The number of suicides has continued to rise in Jersey, which was last year described as having one of the highest suicide rates in the world.

Figures released by the Health department show at least 25 islanders took their own lives last year.

Dr Rosemary Geller, medical officer of health, said the number of suicides had trebled in the past four years.

A continuing study by the University of Southampton found that high alcohol consumption was a factor.

Alcohol consumption

The study was commissioned by Jersey's health department to examine the causes behind the suicides.

Dr Geller told 91Èȱ¬ Jersey: "The University of Southampton are looking into the 2009 data specifically for us.

"What they've found in the past five years is that they reckon that the high alcohol consumption, people with depression, needing help is a factor and possibly isolation, people on their own and particularly young men taking their own lives.

"We're looking into that and we're doing some training with GPs and the mental health directorate working on that too to diagnose depression and help people."