Vol. 430 No. 2
44 Mr. Harte asked the Minister for Health if he will, as a matter of urgency, enquire into the reason the taking of one's own life has increased sixfold in the past twenty years; if he will use the internal organisations within health boards for this purpose; and if he will invite the Northern Ireland Minister for Health and Social Services to co-operate in conducting a similar enquiry in Northern Ireland due to the alarming increase in similar cases there.
The number of reported deaths by suicide in 1973 was 105 and the corresponding figure for 1992 was 352. This is slightly more than half the increase suggested by the Deputy.
It should be noted that a significant part of this increase is due to improved reporting over this period. In regard to responding to the problem of suicide, I believe that the appropriate role for my Department, in conjunction with the health boards, lies in the organisation and delivery of psychiatric services.
There is a role for health promotion. The promotion of mental health is part of health promotion generally. In this regard, one chapter in the Green Paper on Mental Health launched in June 1992 discusses the challenge of promoting mental health and the prevention of suicide. The Green Paper outlines the role mental health personnel can play in the prevention of suicide and emphasises the important contribution of voluntary bodies.
The causes of suicide are complex. Changes in the cohesiveness of society, depression, an erosion of traditional values, lack of employment opportunities and social isolation are all factors which can contribute to individual distress. In response to the problem of suicide the health services provide support to those immediately identifiable as distressed.
