TT sexual health awareness campaign crosses start line

'You wouldn’t ride without a helmet…don’t take the risk. Wear a condom.'

'You wouldn’t ride without a helmet…don’t take the risk. Wear a condom' - that's the key message from a new campaign by Public Health and Manx Care.

They're aiming to encourage healthy sexual practices and ensure people are supported during TT.

Sexually transmitted infections (STI) grew by 80 percent last June; and visits to the Manx Integrated Sexual Health Centre increased by 217 percent.

STIs are usually treatable but can be serious and sometimes deadly if not treated.

The new campaign focuses on safer sex practices, like:

• Wearing a condom
• Getting tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) if you change partners or have unprotected sex
• Looking after your friends on a night out
• The importance of consent

To promote these messages Public Health has been raising awareness among young people who are most likely to visit the centre.

During TT week Manx Integrated Sexual Health Centre will be on hand for information and advice at Bushy’s TT Village.

A suite of advertising materials have been developed, and a dedicated webpage includes tips for safe condom use, when to get tested, the importance of consent in healthy sexual relationships, and links to support and advice.  

Free condoms are also available at some of the TT hotspots.

Manx Radio's Siobhán Fletcher spoke to the MISH Centre's Lead Nurse Amanda Dawson and Deputy Director of Public Health Isle of Man Ross Keat to find out more:

Examples of posters from the campaign. Credit: IOM Government / Manx Care

The Manx Integrated Sexual Health Centre is located on Kensington Road in Douglas.

They are open Monday to Friday from 9am - 5pm and can be contacted by calling 01624 650710.

You can read more about consent via Victim Support Isle of Man, HERE.