Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on the motion put forward by the Independent Deputies. I thank and commend my Independent colleagues, especially Deputy Connolly, for their work on this urgent issue. Once again, we have shown that Independent Members can work together on important issues that matter to the public.

Suicide is a huge and complex subject and we must unite, regardless of political affiliation, to do something urgently for the families directly affected. I clearly remember attending the funerals of three of my past pupils in a ten day period. The sad thing is that this did not make the headlines. Imagine three young men dying as a result of suicide and drugs related problems in a period of ten days in a small community on the northside of Dublin. That is the sad reality for the families.

In our motion, we demand action from the Government to address the issue of mental health in a realistic, relevant and age appropriate manner. It is simply not good enough that there were 444 suicide deaths last year and 11,200 attempted suicides. It is also not good enough that people do not have access to support and back up services. We now have the scandal of the slashing of the mental health budget to 6.8% of the total health budget from its 1997 level of 11%, despite the problem continuing to claim more lives annually.

The tragedy of suicide and the scale of its incidence has been prominent recently. All the evidence and the advice of experts point to the urgent necessity for a comprehensive mental health promotion strategy. I welcome the fact that such a strategy is currently being planned. Information and support for children, parents and teachers in identifying emotional and behavioural problems and early intervention services and programmes, as promised in the national children's strategy, are also urgently required. It is essential that the Government and the Minister for Health and Children give this issue priority.

We need to challenge strongly young people's attitudes to and misconceptions about mental illness. We also need to critically examine society's attitudes to mental illness and the factors that influence such attitudes.

This is an important motion and I urge Deputies to unite behind it. We are putting this issue on the political agenda and we support Deputies in other parties who feel strongly about it. It is most important that all Deputies support the motion.

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