Tom Moffatt
Ceist:79 Dr. Moffatt asked the Minister for Health the number of suicides in County Mayo for each of the years 1992 to 1994; and the way in which this compares with the national average on a population basis. [18207/95]
Written Answers. - Incidence of Suicide.
, Limerick East): I propose giving the figures requested by the Deputy in tabular form beneath:
Number of Deaths from Suicide
|
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
|
|
Mayo |
16 |
12 |
13 |
|
Ireland |
359 |
360 |
353 |
The above figures are provisional as they are based on year of registration rather than occurrence. The figures convert into "Rate per 100,000 Population" as follows:
Rate Per 100,000 Population
|
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
|
|
Mayo |
14.34 |
10.69 |
11.59 |
|
Ireland |
10.12 |
10.10 |
9.89 |
These rates are based on estimated population figures computed by the Central Statistics Office.
The Deputy will be aware that investigation and detailed research into the causes of suicide has not been easy at national level. In the past there has been an understandable reluctance to even discuss the issue and this made the compilation of accurate data on the frequency and pattern of suicide more difficult.
Reliable information on the occurrence of suicidal behaviour is essential if help is to be made available to those considered to be at risk. This is why I announced, last week, the establishment of a National Task Force on Suicide. This expert group will have the following terms of reference:—
(i) To define numerically and qualitatively the nature of the suicide problem in Ireland.
(ii) To define and to quantify the problems of attempted suicide and para-suicide in Ireland, including the associated costs involved.
(iii) To make recommendations on how service providers can most cost-effectively address the problems of attempted suicide and para-suicide.
(iv) To identify the various authorities with jurisdiction in suicide prevention strategies and their respective responsibilities.
(v) To formulate, following consultation with all interested parties, a national suicide prevention strategy.
It is anticipated that by July 1996, the task force should have completed a detailed analysis of all existing data relating to suicide, attempted suicide and associated factors. The rest of 1996 would then be devoted to a major consultative exercise involving all interested parties leading to the formulation of a national suicide prevention strategy by the end of 1996.