PEOPLE are suffering in silence because of the stigma attached to mental health in Guernsey, it has been claimed.

States member Marc Laine (pictured) believes that many points were missed in a critical independent investigation into the service, which was released by Health and Social Services ahead of its States report that will be debated at the end of the month.

‘I think the key thing to remember is that a lot of people are suffering as a result,’ said Deputy Laine of the document.

‘Somewhere at the bottom of the report is stigma. Whether it is in primary or secondary care, the fact that mental health has been stigmatised has meant that people suffer in silence.’

Part of this was because of the Castel Hospital itself, he said.

Deputy Laine backs Health and Social Services’ plans to centralise mental health services at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, treating the issue like any other illness.

Staffing was also a problem, he said.