Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

I commend the Technical Group for tabling this motion giving us the opportunity to address the issue of suicide. I join with my colleague in complimenting Deputy Dan Neville on the work he has been doing over a number of years. The Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, who is in the Chamber, has been involved in the issue also both as Minister of State but also in my local area where we met with a number of groups who are concerned about this issue. In drawing up the national strategy for action it is important that such groups are listened to and that they have a central input into whatever strategy will be put in place because they have done a great deal of work throughout the country. The one I know best is the Rosbrien Suicide Awareness Group in Limerick, with which the Minister is very familiar. It has a great deal of knowledge at this stage, most of which, sadly, is from its members own experience of what needs to be done. These groups should have a major input into whatever decisions are made in terms of implementing the policy.

I spoke to a representative from that group coming into the Dáil this morning and one of the strongest points made is that this issue requires a much broader strategy than mental health alone. It must be dealt with by Government as a broad societal issue. One of the problems of dealing with suicide solely as a mental health issue is that we do not have that necessary broader input. In terms of education in particular, there is a major need for more input than is currently the case.

In the mental health area, the problem is still largely within the realms of psychiatry but I and these groups believe that psychotherapists, psychologists, counsellors and other professionals must be brought to the young person as soon as they need it, for example, if somebody turns up in an accident and emergency unit. I am aware professionals in this area are being put in place in accident and emergency units but the experience is that a person is referred almost immediately to the psychiatric services, are then put on waiting lists and are either admitted to a psychiatric ward or attend day-care units but they are not often in a position to respond in that way. They need immediate support and somebody to talk to. The Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, has heard the views of the group I referred to but I ask him to take these points into account when drawing up strategies.

On the question of education, I note from the newspapers this morning that Professor Fitzmaurice from UCD will make a speech later today on the narrow focus of the leaving certificate and what students are doing increasingly in schools. Despite programmes such as the social, personal and health education programme, it is not an examination subject that is compulsory at senior cycle level, although it is compulsory at primary and junior cycle level. The focus on the points race and achievement in the school system is having a serious effect on the self-esteem of many young people and does not provide the space to address those type of issues.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has produced a document, from which I will quote, on broadening the leaving certificate, changing the syllabus and introducing what it describes as short courses to which points in the leaving certificate would attach. Among the short courses they suggest is a type of personal self-esteem and health education option. If we include such courses in the central syllabus where they can be awarded points and broaden the leaving certificate generally, it will make a major difference. Currently, those issues do not get the necessary attention in schools because of the drive in the points system. The NCCA stated:

Not changing, leaving things as they are, is not an option. It is a temptation. At a glance it may seem that senior cycle is 'not broken', and requires no 'fixing'. A closer look confirms that it is 'not broken' but that the pressures from a student cohort participating in education for longer with diverse learning needs, together with the dynamics of social, economic and cultural changes are beginning to tell. . . . Senior cycle is too important a stage in the life and education of a young person to attempt to hold the system together with superficial repairs or to await the onset of a crisis.

That advice should be heeded. The Minister is somewhat reluctant to make any changes in the leaving certificate because it is transparent and fair but it is part of the problem because it narrows the focus of young people.

Some programmes in schools appear to be well thought out. One of them is a suicide awareness information programme in the former South Eastern Health Board area. Those type of options must be examined also. I ask the Minister to take on board the points I have made and ensure that suicide is seen as a broader issue than simply one of mental health.

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