Dan Neville
Ceist:369 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide the international suicide figures, displaying the position of Ireland in such a league of countries. [20346/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 6 July 2004
Ceisteanna (337)
Freagraí scríofa
The most recent suicide rates published by the World Health Organisation, European section, and listed below indicate that Ireland is placed 17th, with a suicide rate of 10.2 per 100,000 population.
|
Country |
||
|
1. |
Lithuania |
39.6 |
|
2. |
Latvia |
28.8 |
|
3. |
Hungary |
27.7 |
|
4. |
Slovenia |
25.7 |
|
5. |
Estonia |
24.5 |
|
6. |
Finland |
21.2 |
|
7. |
Belgium |
17.4 |
|
8. |
Austria |
16.6 |
|
9. |
France |
15.1 |
|
10. |
Czech Republic |
14.1 |
|
11. |
Poland |
13.8 |
|
12. |
Denmark |
12.5 |
|
13. |
Sweden |
12.3 |
|
14. |
Luxembourg |
12.3 |
|
15. |
Slovakia |
11.9 |
|
16. |
Germany |
11.5 |
|
17. |
Ireland |
10.2 |
|
18. |
Netherlands |
8.6 |
|
19. |
UK |
7.0 |
|
20. |
Spain |
6.8 |
|
21. |
Malta |
6.5 |
|
22. |
Italy |
5.9 |
|
23. |
Portugal |
3.9 |
|
24. |
Greece |
3.1 |
* Rates for Cyprus are not returned to the WHO, European section.
* Rates are reported per 100,000 of the population.
(Source: World Health Organisation, European Section. 10 May 2004.)
Since the publication of the report of the national task force on suicide in 1998, a cumulative total of more than €17.5 million has been provided towards suicide prevention programmes and for research. This year more than €4.5 million is available to the various agencies working towards reducing the level of suicide and attempted suicide in this country. This includes funding to support the work of the health boards, the National Suicide Review Group, the Irish Association of Suicidology and the National Suicide Research Foundation for its work in the development of a national parasuicide register.
Work is now well under way on the preparation of a strategic action plan for suicide reduction. This strategy, which involves HeBE in partnership with the National Suicide Review Group and is supported by the Department of Health and Children, will be action-based from the outset and will build on existing policy. All measures aimed at reducing the number of deaths by suicide will be considered in the preparation of this strategy, which will be completed in 2005.