Finian McGrath
Question:448 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding services (details supplied). [12431/08]
View answerWednesday, 2 April 2008
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Responsibility for the implementation of ‘Reach Out' the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention, which was published in September 2005, rests with the HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP). Significant additional funding of €3.05 million was provided in 2006 and 2007 which brought the total funding available to support suicide prevention initiatives in 2007 to €8 million. This level of funding continues into 2008. Suicide prevention funding has been used to develop and implement national training programmes, complete the availability of self-harm services through A&E departments, develop mental health awareness campaigns, implement recommendations arising from a review of bereavement services and support voluntary organisations working in the field of suicide prevention.
It should also be emphasised that a range of services such as mental health and primary care services are important in helping to prevent suicide.
Data on suicide are collected through the Coroners Service and Gardaí (Form 104) and published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Data on alcohol related suicides and car related incidents are not routinely collected. However, a study by Bedford et al (2006) found that of the 31 suicide deaths, 56% tested positive for alcohol. The relatively small study sample (129) limits the generalisation of these findings.