Dáil debates

Thursday, 2 June 2005

Suicide Prevention: Statements.

 

3:00 pm

Photo of John PerryJohn Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy McGuinness for allowing me to contribute. Considering the figures for suicide, self-harm and non-fatal suicidal behaviour over the last ten years, it is clear this is an increasing problem among young people. In 2003, 440 cases of suicide and 11,000 cases of deliberate self-harm were referred to accident and emergency departments through the national parasuicide register. We also know that those at high risk of suicide are young men between the ages of 20 and 34, for whom suicide is now the first cause of mortality. Among those who harm themselves the majority are young men, although this behaviour is increasing among young women. There is still too much speculation about the causes and risk factors as to why suicide and deliberate self-harm has increased in Ireland in recent years. Most people who are depressed do not die of suicide and do not harm themselves so one of the priorities should be to find out more about the specific cause and risk factors that are associated with suicide and deliberate self-harm. We do not even know if young people who harm themselves are the same people who die by suicide years later. We can only speculate about this because evidence is lacking.

As Deputies will be aware from recent media coverage many initiatives are being developed to address the problem of suicidal behaviour. This is a reflection of the increased commitment of people all over Ireland to work towards prevention. Most of the initiatives are ad hoc and there is a clear lack of co-ordination at national level. This is not helpful in the long term. Long-term planning and investment in research and prevention of suicidal behaviour is needed. We need to support ongoing long-term efforts in research and prevention such as work by the National Suicide Research Foundation and the national strategy for action on suicide prevention, which will be launched this year.

I wish to give credit to a new organisation, Suicide, Teach, Observe and Prevent, STOP. It was set up by two families from Dromahaire, County Leitrim. Both of these had sons who committed suicide last year. In an attempt to understand more about what happened to their sons they conducted research and discovered frightening statistics in the north west. A figure of 450 people, mostly young males, committed suicide and over 10,000 attempted to do so. STOP aims to educate mental health professionals and to turn a spotlight on the epidemic of suicide that exists in the north west.

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