Vol. 437 No. 4
172 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the methods that are most commonly used for an attempted suicide or suicide; if he will give a breakdown of the number and method for an attempted suicide or suicide for each health board area; the proposals, if any, he has to address the increasing number of suicides; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Detailed information on the deaths from suicide, including break downs by geographical area and by cause of death, is routinely published in the annual reports on vital statistics which are compiled by the Central Statistics Office and I will arrange to have the relevant extracts from recent reports in this series forwarded to the Deputy.
Very limited information is available in regard to attempted suicide and it may not be possible to supply the information sought. I am having the position in this matter examined and I will write to the Deputy as soon as possible.
I would also refer the Deputy to a recent Adjournment Debate, Dáil Official Report of 25 November 1993, columns 707-709, which sets out the role of my Department in regard to the appropriate response to the problem of suicide and attempted suicide.
