Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Dec 2001

Vol. 545 No. 5

Written Answers. - Suicide Incidence.

Ivor Callely

Question:

128 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the level of suicide here and comparative figures for other EU member states; the preventative programmes in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31065/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The latest figures for suicide in Ireland, as published annually by the Central Statistics Office, are as follows: 504 in 1998; 439 in 1999; and 413 in 2000. A comparison with other EU member states, collated from information supplied by the World Health Organisation, is set out as follows:

Country	LatestavailableYear	Numberof suicides	Rateof suicides(per 100,000)
Austria	1999	1,555	19.2
Belgium	1995	2,155	21.3
Denmark	1996	892	17.5
Finland	1998	1,228	23.8
France	1997	11,139	19.0
Germany	1998	11,648	14.2
Greece	1998	403	3.8
Ireland	2000	413	10.9
Italy	1997	4,694	8.2
Luxembourg	1997	81	19.4
Netherlands	1997	1,570	10.1
Portugal	1998	556	5.6
Spain	1997	3,373	8.6
Sweden	1996	1,253	14.2
UnitedKingdom	1998	4,389	7.4

Considerable progress has been made to date in the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the national task force on suicide published in 1998. Central to that report was the provision of a national suicide prevention strategy which is now in place. The key components of the strategy are: the implementation of measures aimed at high risk groups; provision of information and training on suicide prevention to relevant professionals and organisations; and, research into suicide prevention.

All health boards have appointed resource officers to further the implementation of the strategy within their own areas. Over £3 million, 3.8 million, has been provided since the publication of the task force report for suicide prevention programmes in the health boards and towards research aimed at improving our understanding of this disturbing problem.