POOR mental health is a 'significant’ issue for the Isle of Wight with around 3.3 per cent of people claiming incapacity benefit citing it as a reason.
This compares with just two per cent in the rest of the south east and 2.8 per cent nationally.
The figures were revealed as part of the Isle of Wight public health annual report at a meeting of the Isle of Wight NHS Primary Care Trust (PCT) Board this week by the Isle of Wight’s director of publlc health, Dr Jenifer Smith.
Speaking after the meeting, she said statistics suggested that the situation on the Isle of Wight was 'significantly’ worse than the rest of the south east.
She cited a number of factors that could be responsible including lower educational attainment on the Isle of Wight and the high number of seasonal jobs.
She said: "People on the Island perceive it as difficult to get out of the situation they find themselves in."
Men on the Isle of Wight are set to be targeted by health professionals in a marketing campaign aimed at encouraging them to seek help when they suffer from mental health problems.
The report revealed men smoke and drink more if they suffer from poor mental health, even though they are aware taking up hobbies or exercising regularly would be better for them.
Work was a major cause of stress in men’s lives, especially when employers expected their staff to work longer hours, work at different sites and valued high levels of stress among the workforce as evidence of productivity.
Dr Smith added: "There is a large stigma around men’s mental health."
Reporter: davidn@iwcpmail.co.uk