Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have been given a great deal of information, but I will try to be brief. I can read through the submissions in my own time. My first question is for the National Office for Suicide Prevention. I read in the office's 2018 report, which was provided to the committee three or four weeks ago, the suicide statistics from 2008 to 2018. The highest figure was 579 in 2011 whereas the figure for 2018 was 352. I am looking for information to educate myself. Are there any studies showing why the number has reduced? I spoke to the HSE last week and was told there are myriad reasons affecting suicide rates.

I was asked to direct my questions to the National Office for Suicide Prevention, NOSP, as it is more expert in the area. I would welcome some background information on where that is, why it fluctuates, what kind of data exist, what kind of research is there and what kind of intelligence is around that.

When I spoke to the HSE two weeks ago, I also spoke about my experience of shadowing the bridge patrol in Limerick, operated by the Limerick Suicide Watch, which was a learning experience for me. Is there any co-ordinated communication between the office and the groups on the ground? There was one intervention during the four hours I was there. A couple of people the group spoke to were also feeling quite low within that period. My intention is not to sensationalise that, it is just to say how it was on that evening. There are evenings where there will be no interventions and then there may be a peak in activity. Is there a formal communication process between the office and such groups to get feedback and to provide data? I refer to what they are finding on the ground, what may help and any other parameters that might be included that would be helpful.

Reference was made to SpunOut.ieand the Pathfinder project. That is something I am working on myself behind the scenes. The last update I got is that there was a meeting on 19 July. I think I sent the information to the NOSP. I was advised that what has been suggested has never been done before. We are trying to push it. I want to see it done and I will seek an update.

I am not sure which of the witnesses to direct my next question to. Where are we at in terms of stigma? There was no mention of it in the contributions today. That is no disrespect to the contributions: I am aware that the witnesses have only five minutes to get their points across. I do not intend any disrespect to anyone, but it is incumbent on us to ensure that stigma does not go off the radar. We should not stop talking about stigma. What are the initiatives in that regard?

Ms Treanor spoke about the increase in self-harm among 15 to 19 year olds. Is there research to indicate what is the major factor behind that increase in recent years? Is it being driven solely by social media or is it a more complex issue?