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Suicide Prevention

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2013

Tuesday, 14 May 2013

Questions (98, 108, 644, 691)

Brendan Smith

Question:

98. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his policy for reducing suicide rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22615/13]

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Seamus Kirk

Question:

108. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health the measures he is putting in place to tackle suicide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22597/13]

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Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

644. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his plans to set up a media campaign, similar to that of the road safety with the Road Safety Authority, targeting the prevention of suicide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22527/13]

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Tom Fleming

Question:

691. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will strategically coordinate his Department, the Health Service Executive and the various suicide organisations, for example, Console, Pieta House, Aware, Mental Health Awareness, South West Counselling, Living Links and many other proactive organisations regarding the prevention of suicide; if he will take immediate action to organise these various groups into a single cohesive unit in conjunction with the HSE whilst these groups still maintain their own identity and ownership of their specific organisation; if he will assist with funding and resources to ensure that the potential of this strategic coordination is harnessed, directed and targeted effectively to deal with the spiralling phenomenon of suicide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22886/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 98, 108, 644 and 691 together.

Suicide is a tragedy that we are constantly working to prevent and also working to give more support to the families affected. Dealing with the current high levels of suicide and deliberate self-harm is a priority for this Government. Reach Out our National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention makes a number of recommendations in relation to fast track referrals to community-based mental health services, effective response to deliberate self-harm, training, stigma reduction, etc. Consequently, the HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) has developed a range of initiatives to support people who are suicidal and also supporting their families, friends and peers in recognising and responding appropriately to signs of emotional distress and suicidal thoughts.

Funding for suicide prevention is provided to the NOSP by the HSE from its overall budget for mental health. The annual budget for suicide prevention increased this year to over €13 million. Over €8 million of this is provided to the NOSP to fund voluntary and statutory agencies delivering services in the area of prevention, intervention, postvention and research. The remaining €5 million for suicide prevention is available regionally to fund HSE Resource Officers for Suicide Prevention, Self-Harm Liaison Nurses in Hospital Emergency Departments and local suicide prevention initiatives.

The NOSP is reviewing its current activities to make the most of our available resources, including looking at best practice internationally to inform evidence-based policy decisions. This will result in a revised strategic approach for 2013 and will inform the final phase of the Reach Out Strategy, which runs until 2014. I expect that the HSE will approve the revised approach in the very near future.

A key part of the work of the NOSP is to create an awareness within the community of positive mental health and suicide prevention. NOSP commissions major national media campaigns and also sponsors non-statutory partners in their health promotion work. The major NOSP campaigns include ‘Your Mental Health’ and ‘Let Someone Know’. It also funds campaigns targeted at specific groups within the community e.g. the farming community through Farm TV. These programmes have been well evaluated in terms of impact. The focus of these national campaigns is to assist the individual to understand the importance of looking after their mental health and to seek help at times of stress.

The NOSP is also involved in media monitoring to ensure that safe messages are communicated through print media and has facilitated national standards on the reporting of suicide. The NOSP has recently established a communication advisory group to assist with the development of a new communications strategy for suicide prevention and to promote positive mental health.

Another function of the NOSP is to coordinate the activity of the many voluntary and statutory agencies that are engaged in suicide prevention activities. Currently the NOSP funds 26 non-statutory agencies working in this area. The relationship between NOSP and the non-statutory groups is framed in Service Level Agreements.

It is vital that we ensure that this work is connected/interlinked and avoids duplication, is evidence and needs based and offers value for money. In order to get maximum benefit from the investment in suicide prevention and ensure a coordinated response to the needs of those at risk of or affected by suicide, the NOSP will continue to coordinate the work of the many different voluntary, statutory and non-statutory organisations working in this area. By promoting cross-organisational collaboration, the development of networks and partnerships, skills sharing and service development, the NOSP hopes to maximise the impact of a suicide prevention and support network in Ireland, to ensure it reaches and responds effectively to people who are vulnerable. The NOSP is currently working to integrate current programmes so as to reduce duplication within the sector, and provide a strategic framework for the coordination of the extensive range of actions in this area.

Question No. 99 answered with Question No. 92.
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