Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 7

Written Answers. - Suicide Incidence.

Derek McDowell

Ceist:

17 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures, if any, he will undertake to reduce the numbers of suicides taking place each year in view of the fact suicide rates have almost doubled since 1990 and Ireland has the highest attempted suicide rate in Europe. [27072/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

Suicide has become a serious social problem in this country. This trend is not confined to Ireland but is a growing global problem. Suicide is now the most common cause of death among 15 to 24 year olds. Apart from the increase in the overall rate of suicide, a disturbing feature is the significant rise in the male suicide rate which accounted for 421 of the 504 suicide deaths in 1998. These are worrying trends which require further research so that better strategies are developed to help people who are particularly at risk.

Since the publication of the final report of the National Task Force on Suicide in 1998, a national suicide prevention/reduction strategy has commenced with a partnership approach being adopted between health boards and non-statutory services. Central to the strategy, in so far as the health services are concerned, has been the establishment of a suicide research group by the health boards to conduct research and advise health boards on measures to prevent and reduce suicide and attempted suicide.

All health boards have appointed resource officers and have established multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary working groups to examine the implementation of the recommendations of the task force report. They are engaged in a range of activities including the promotion of positive mental health and the de-stigmatisation of suicide, provision of information in relation to suicide and parasuicide, liaison with the media and provision of training for staff in relation to suicide and parasuicide. The process of consultation with statutory and voluntary groups regarding the issue of suicide has also commenced.

An additional £1 million announced in the budget is being allocated to suicide prevention programmes in the health boards next year and to research aimed at improving our understanding of this disturbing social problem. Priority is being given to the further development of mental health services for groups at risk of suicide, in particular young males and the elderly. Health boards are examining ways in which mental health services can be made more accessible to such groups and the provision of crisis intervention services is being examined by a number of boards.

Having national information on the groups at highest risk of suicide can contribute hugely to a suicide prevention strategy. Parasuicide consists of any nonfatal act initiated deliberately by an individual in the knowledge that it may cause harm or death. International studies have found parasuicide to be one of the most significant risk factors associated with suicide – those who engage in parasuicide are 20 times more likely to eventually kill themselves. A sum of £200,000 is being provided this year for the establishment, by the national suicide research foundation in Cork, of a national parasuicide register.