Dan Neville
Question:31 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the procedures, if any, in each health board area to cater for those who are chronically suicidal. [5352/00]
Written Answers. - Suicide Prevention.
Each person presenting with a mental health problem to the health boards' mental health services is assessed and given a care plan. Support on an out-patient and, if appropriate, an in-patient basis is provided to patients with suicidal ideation. Those who are chronically suicidal are closely monitored by the mental health multidisciplinary team in liaison with the person's general practitioner. Active intervention takes place when crises occur.
In order to prevent suicide and to prevent people who have attempted suicide from repeating such attempts, additional resources have been allocated this year towards the expansion of suicide prevention programmes in the health boards and to fund research aimed at improving our understanding of the causes of suicide and attempted suicide. Priority is being given to the further development of mental health services for groups at risk of suicide, in particular younger adult males and older people. Health boards are exploring ways in which mental health services can be made more accessible to such groups. It is my intention to continue to support initiatives aimed at combating this distressing social and public health problem.