Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 May 1995

Vol. 453 No. 5

Written Answers. - Suicide Prevention.

Michael McDowell

Ceist:

41 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to introduce a preventative strategy in relation to the high number of suicides amongst young people; if his Department is looking at this are with a view to framing a preventative strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9459/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): In the past, the rate of suicide in Ireland was genuinely low but has increased over the last 20 years. Among persons aged 34 years and under, the number of deaths attributed to suicide rose from 41 in 1974 to 154 in 1993. The proportion of suicides among young people as a proportion of total suicides has risen from a figure of 35 per cent of total in 1974 to 41 per cent in 1993.

In recognition of the need for further research on the factors which lead people to take their own lives and the most effective way of intervening to prevent premature loss of life, my Department is contributing towards the cost of a pilot project on attempted suicide in Cork, carried out by staff of the Southern Health Board under the direction of Dr. Michael Kelleher, Consultant Psychiatrist. The aim of this project is to reduce the occurrence of para-suicide and to develop intervention skills which may be applied in this area. The project forms one of the participating centres in the WHO-EURO Multi Centre Study on Para-suicide. I am pleased that the Mid-Western Health Board has recently become a participant in the study.

I am examining ways of involving experts in the examination of the annual statistics on suicide and to make recommendations which might help to prevent some suicides.

In the context of suicide prevention, the World Health Organisation suggests the need for improvements in the underlying societal factors that put a strain on the individual, such as family stress, social isolation of elderly people living alone and failure at school. It emphasises the need to develop the individual's ability to cope with events of life and provide a better network of social support. The ability of people to cope with life is a crucial factor in preventing and managing mental illness. Health Boards are already involved in a number of ways in promoting better coping skills through parenting programmes, pre-school playgroups, life skills education in schools, alcohol and drug awareness programmes and social support for elderly people living alone. The Health strategy "Shaping a Healthier Future" recognises the importance of health promotion, including the promotion of mental health. Over the next four years the health services will continue to support and provide programmes to promote mental health and prevent suicide.