Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Dec 2001

Vol. 545 No. 5

Written Answers. - Suicide Incidence.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

44 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the recent report, Suicide in Ireland, A National Study, which found that almost five times more men than women died from suicide here; his plans to implement the recommendations in the report aimed at reducing the number of suicides; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30909/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I am aware of the report referred to by the Deputy. This study was undertaken by the public health departments of the health boards in response to the growing concerns about the rising trends in suicide. The report confirms many of the findings of the National Task Force on Suicide which published its report in 1998.

One of the key recommendations of this new report is that the recommendations of the report of the national task force be fully implemented. Considerable progress has been made to date in the implementation of the recommendations and this is reflected in the reduction in the number of recorded suicides for the past two years. Many of the recommendations of the task force, however, require continuous development particularly in the area of training and in the development of services relating to suicide and suicide prevention. I am fully committed to supporting suicide prevention programmes and the health strategy, Quality and Fairness – A Health System for You, published last week, includes a commitment to intensify the existing suicide prevention programmes over the coming years.

In order to further reduce the number of suicides it is essential that people undergoing life crises should get appropriate support. In this regard over £3 million or 3.8 million has been provided since the publication of the report of the task force on suicide towards suicide prevention and towards research aimed at improving understanding of this issue. Additional funding has also been made available to further develop child and adolescent psychiatry and old age psychiatry services to assist in the early identification of suicidal behaviour and to provide the necessary support and treatment to individuals at risk.

The report referred to by the Deputy confirms the high rate of suicide among men and, in particular, young men. The recently published health strategy, Quality and Fairness – A Health System for You, acknowledges the importance of men's health and confirms that a policy for men's health and health promotion will be developed by my Department.

This new report also recommends that steps be taken to make the mental health services more accessible to the public through the development of improved community based mental health services. The level of funding which has been made available for the development of community based mental health facilities has increased significantly in recent years and community services such as home nursing, day centres, family support, hostels and day hospitals will continue to be developed.