Dan Neville
Question:63 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children his Department's response to the 81 per cent increase in suicide rates for the first quarter of 1998 from 71 victims in 1997 to 129 victims in 1998. [23903/98]
Written Answers. - Suicide Incidence.
The continuing rise in the incidence of suicide is a cause of considerable concern. As the Deputy is aware, the report of the National Task Force on Suicide, which was published in February 1998, put forward a national suicide prevention/reduction strategy and identified the various authorities with jurisdiction in suicide prevention strategies and their respective responsibilities. I am anxious that the measures recommended in the strategy are implemented without unnecessary delays. Since the publication of the report, I have been in contact with my ministerial colleagues in the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Education and Science, and the Environment and Local Government, with a view to implementing the task force recommendations in so far as these Departments are concerned. My Department has also contacted all the statutory agencies identified in the report with jurisdiction in suicide prevention strategies requesting that the necessary measures are put in place to ensure the implementation of the recommendations which relate to their respective areas.
A core recommendation of the task force report is the establishment of a suicide research group by the chief executive officers of the health boards. The group's main responsibilities include the review of ongoing trends in suicide and para-suicide, the co-ordination of research into suicide and the making of recommendations to the chief executive officers of health boards which, it is hoped, will assist in the reversal of the growing incidence of suicide. The group was established earlier this year by the chief executive officers of the health boards and has met on a number of occasions. Arising from the deliberations of the group so far, it is intended to appoint a full-time researcher/co-ordinator with secretarial facilities. I am providing the necessary funds to the group to allow this important work to proceed.
As far as the provision of services on the ground are concerned, my own Department is involved in a number of areas. The Irish Medicines Board have made recommendations involving certain additional restrictions in the sale of paracetamol, together with additional warnings on the packaging and information leaflets. An extensive consultation process has been conducted in relation to the board's recommendations and the question of introducing regulations to give full statutory effect to the recommendations is under examination. I am glad to report, however, that most pharmaceutical companies and pharmacists are giving effect to the board's recommendations on a voluntary basis.
The majority of health boards have established working groups to examine the implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force on Suicide. The working groups are multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary and engage in the promotion of positive mental health and the de-stigmatisation of suicide, provide information in relation to suicide and para-suicide, liaise with the media and provide training requirements for staff in relation to all aspects of suicide and para-suicide. The process of consultation with statutory and voluntary groups regarding the issue of suicide has also commenced in many health board areas. Resource officers have been appointed in many of the health boards with responsibility for implementing recommendations of the task force.
I am anxious that groups at risk of suicide, in particular the young and older age sectors of our population, have greater accessibility to relevant health services at times of stress. I am committed to further developing consultant led child and adolescent and old age psychiatry services during 1999 which will assist in the early identification of suicidal behaviour and provide the necessary support and treatment to individuals at risk. An important development in the education sector which will promote self-esteem and self-confidence and enable students to develop personal and social skills is the approval by the National Council for Curriculum Assessment — NCCA — of a social, personal and health education syllabus for primary level and the junior cycle for post-primary level schools. I understand that a sub-committee of the NCCA course committee is meeting to develop an implementation strategy that will be recommended to the Department of Education and Science.