Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the important matter of suicide. This issue must be dealt with in a well thought-out, caring and professional manner. We must face up to the problem in our society and move on to resolve it.

The Government and the broader community must accept that suicide is a major crisis in the State. We must face that reality and accept that the latest statistics reveal that suicide accounts for 50% more deaths annually than road traffic accidents. A total of 444 people committed suicide last year while 293 people died on the roads. Suicide is the most common cause of death in Ireland among those aged between 15 and 24 and our rate in this age group is the highest of all 25 EU states. The suicide rate in Ireland is rising more quickly than in any other EU country and the rate among young females doubled between 1992 and 2000. The highest rate of suicide in the past five years is among men aged between 20 and 29. In 2003, 11,200 para-suicides or attempted suicides presented to hospital accident and emergency departments.

There is a correlation between suicide and factors such as unemployment, living in poverty, bullying, relationship breakdown, legal and work related problems, alcohol and drug abuse, physical or sexual abuse in childhood and social exclusion. We have witnessed the slashing of the mental health budget from 11% of the total health budget in 1997 to 6.8% this year, despite the fact that suicide is claiming more lives annually. Another reality that must be faced is that there are only 20 inpatient beds with specialised services for adolescents with mental health problems.

This is the reality for many of our citizens. However, suicide is also a community and family issue. We must all slow down and listen to the needs and feelings of others. The modern society of rush and go, competition and pressure leads to a situation where people are not listening to one another and vulnerable people fall through the net. Every citizen of this State should be the eyes and ears of a public health strategy. We must become a community that listens.

I have a number of proposals to deal with suicide, including developing an effective strategic action plan for both prevention and reduction of suicide as an urgent, national priority; implementing all 86 recommendations of the 1998 report of the national task force on suicide on ways to prevent and reduce the incidence of suicide; establishing a national suicide prevention agency; providing a comprehensive programme of multidisciplinary research and investment in suicide prevention strategies; and improving awareness of suicide by investing resources in education programmes and mental health services. When the Government carries out such actions, then we can say we are taking the issue of suicide seriously. I urge all Deputies to reflect on these important matters.

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