Vol. 477 No. 1
117 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health the steps, if any, he has taken to provide funding for research into suicide; the support, if any, his Department is providing for people who have suicidal tendencies and for families of those who have been bereaved by suicide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8583/97]
Limerick East): I fully recognise the importance of research towards assisting in the formulation of effective suicide prevention programmes. In November 1995 I established a National Task Force on Suicide to address the growing problem of suicide in Ireland. In September 1996 the task force published its interim report which contained a detailed analysis of statistics relating to suicide and attempted suicide in Ireland. The final report of the task force, which will contain a national suicide prevention/reduction strategy, is at an advanced stage of preparation and will be published shortly.
Current research into suicide also includes a national suicide inquiry being undertaken in each of the eight health boards. This study aims to establish the incidence of suicide in Ireland with a view to developing prevention programmes. The National Suicide Research Foundation in Cork is also involved in extensive suicide and parasuicide research which is being funded by my Department through the Health Research Board.
Health boards, in many instances, work closely with local voluntary organisations who provide specialised suicide bereavement counselling services. As part of its terms of reference, the National Task Force on Suicide will be making recommendations on how service providers can most cost effectively address the problems of attempted suicide and parasuicide. The recommendations of the task force will be fully considered by my Department.
