Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Will the Taoiseach agree that to take one's own life is an act of sheer desperation and not one of selfishness? Is the Taoiseach aware that a recent report has indicated that somewhere between 40% to 60% of people who suffer from schizophrenia will in the course of their lives attempt to take their own life and that some 10% of people with schizophrenia die by suicide? Will the Taoiseach again indicate to the House his intent and the commitment of his Government to fully resource and implement the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention 2005-2014? That is critically important. Will he agree that rather than blaming or stigmatising victims of suicide, what is needed are effective programmes? It is critically important to begin within the education system. Will the Taoiseach agree that what is required is a far greater awareness of and education not only on the issue of suicide but its placement in the context of the overall issue of mental health? We must be bold enough to state exactly where this needs to be addressed.

On the issue of mental health, we must combat the stigmatisation of people suffering from any degree of mental illness. We must recognise and be prepared to acknowledge the likelihood that any one in four of our population, and any one in four of our number, will experience and suffer from some degree of mental illness in the course of our lives. It is important that we address this issue in that way and start at the earliest age possible to empower and strengthen young people to face the difficulties and challenges of life.

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