Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

I am responding on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on today's adjournment.

The media play a very important part in raising awareness about suicide and suicide prevention, and in changing the stigma and our attitudes to suicidal behaviour and to mental illness. Suicides can be newsworthy and dramatic events. That an individual has chosen to end his or her life, deliberately and prematurely, suggests that there is a story to be told. For journalists and editors, suicide presents a dilemma. It can be an issue of public interest, thereby coming within the ambit of news reporting. There can be a positive aspect to reporting suicide, as debate may help to de-stigmatise the subject and provoke a wider discussion about the importance of good emotional health. However, research also shows that inappropriate reporting or photography can lead to copycat suicides.

I welcome the publication of the Media Guidelines for the Portrayal of Suicide, which the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy O'Malley, launched on Tuesday of this week. The publication is a joint collaboration by the Irish Association of Suicidology and the Samaritans and has been produced primarily to help those working in the media. It makes suggestions for journalists, writers, photographers and directors, working in television, radio, theatre, film, print and electronic media.

The guidelines are not meant to be exhaustive and they do not seek to dictate, because each situation is different. They aim to offer support in deciding how to approach what is undoubtedly one of the most difficult matters to cover. These guidelines offer practical suggestions on appropriate reporting of suicide, such as the use of appropriate language, including details of sources of information, the avoidance of simplistic explanations for suicide and the avoidance of detailed descriptions of suicide methods.

As we are all aware, there was in the past a reluctance to even discuss the issue of suicide. Thankfully, this situation has now changed. In Ireland, the level of discussion and openness on mental health issues, including deliberate self-harm and suicide has increased significantly in recent years, which is very welcome. However, we need to ensure that public discussion and media coverage of suicide and deliberate self-harm remains measured, well informed and sensitive to the needs and well-being of psychologically vulnerable and distressed individuals in our society. In particular, we need to continue to work as a society to create a culture and environment where people in psychological distress feel able to seek help from family, friends and health professionals.

Suicide touches the lives of many people and is in every case a tragedy, both for the life that has ended and the family, friends and community left behind. Many of us will know someone who has attempted suicide or died by suicide. The number of deaths by suicide registered by the Central Statistics Office was 431 in 2005. Young males have shown a significant increase in the rate of suicide in the past decade, with 321 such deaths in 1995 rising to 353 in 2005. These findings reinforce the need for sustained and co-ordinated action in response to the ongoing problem of suicidal behaviour.

I recognise the many challenges that lie ahead and I am aware that there are no easy or single interventions that will bring a guarantee of success. International evidence shows that reducing the suicide rate and preventing suicides requires a collective, concerted effort from all groups in society — health, social services and other professionals, communities, voluntary and statutory agencies and organisations, parents, friends, neighbours and individuals.

In this regard, the national strategy for action on suicide prevention was launched on 8 September last by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. A fundamental aim of the new strategy is to prevent suicidal behaviour, including deliberate self-harm, and to increase awareness of the importance of good mental health among the general population. The Health Service Executive is taking a lead role in overseeing the implementation of the strategy, in partnership with those statutory and voluntary organisations that have a key role to play in making the actions happen. Driving the implementation of the strategy is the national office for suicide prevention within the national population health directorate of the HSE. The role of the national office is to co-ordinate suicide prevention activities across the State, consult widely on the planning of future initiatives, and ensure best practice in suicide prevention. This year an additional €1.2 million was allocated to the national office.

The Government is committed to the implementation of suicide prevention initiatives and the further development of our mental health services in order to prevent, and reduce, further tragic loss of life.

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