Vol. 440 No. 4
351 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself that the number of suicides is accurately reflected in national statistics; the action, if any, he intends to take in relation to teenage suicides in order to reduce the extent of cases currently being reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Information on deaths by suicide is collected by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The CSO regularly monitors the accuracy of its data and has assisted studies investigating the level of suicide. These studies have shown the official statistics to be accurate within acceptable limits.
In order to try to reduce the extent of suicide, both among teenagers and in the population at large, my Department is contributing towards the costs of a pilot project on attempted suicide in Cork to be carried out by staff of the Southern Health Board. The aim of this project is to reduce the re-occurrence of attempted suicides and to develop intervention skills which may be applied in this area.
My Department is also providing financial support towards the cost of the fifth European symposium on suicide and self-poisoning, which will take place in University College Cork from 31 August to 3 September, 1994.
This symposium will be attended by between 200 and 300 researchers from all over Europe who are working in the area of better understanding and the prevention of suicide and suicidal behaviour.
