Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Cosúil le daoine eile, gabhaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Kathleen Lynch, as ucht an post nua atá faighte aici. Ní bhfuair mé seans é sin a rá go dtí seo. Tá a fhios agam, ón obair a dhein sí roimhe seo, gur duine maith í. Tá súil agam go mbeidh sí in ann obair de réir a mbriathar nuair a bhí sí ar an taobh seo den Teach.

Baineann an díospóireacht seo le ceist ríthábhachtach don tsochaí. Níl an ghné seo gafa le polaitíocht páirtí, ach leis an bpolaitíocht agus leis an sochaí. Ní chóir go mbeimid in adharca a chéile faoi. Sa deireadh thiar thall, tá an díospóireacht seo sé níos tábhachtaí ná aon rud eile a tharlaíonn anseo. Baineann an ábhar seo le beatha na ndaoine. Mar a dúirt an dá Theachta a labhair romhaim, más féidir linn díriú isteach ar an ní seo uair sa bhliain, b'fhéidir go gcuideoidh sé le duine éigin a shábháil ó féinmharú. Measaim gur fiú é sin. É sin ráite, caithfimid díriú isteach ar cén fáth ar tharla méadú chomh mór ar ráta féinmharaithe na tíre seo le blianta beaga anuas. Ní leor a rá go bhfuil níos mó taifead á dhéanamh ar seo.

It is not just that there is now greater recording of suicides than there was in the past. That accounts for some of the increase in recent years, but it does not explain why our society is suffering the current level of suicide. The previous speaker said that 527 suicides were recorded in 2009, which was a substantial increase on the previous year - that is not even the full figure.

That gives a sense of the scale of the problem we have. It is not a party political issue but is a political issue because we as a society must ensure that the appropriate resources are dedicated to addressing this issue. The services and supports need to be in place, whether it is at a local community level or at a national level. The HSE should give a greater priority to dealing with mental health issues than it has given in the past. In our schools and clubs those who are mentors, leaders and teachers need to understand how to identify the signs. Not everybody who has committed or attempted suicide projects the signs but quite a number of people do so. I am no expert in this field but realise there are signs that need to be spotted and that people need to be listened to. The problems need to be addressed in as comradely and helpful a fashion as possible. It is partly a question of resources. The various groups who help those who are suffering from distress or depression, or who are contemplating suicide, have set out in some detail the steps one can take. We need to consider these.

A harrowing statistic I read in recent months is that over 74% of citizens know somebody who has died by suicide. This shows the scale of the problem. It is only one step removed from us. How many Members have attended funerals of suicide victims and noted the absolute grief of their bereaved families? We have noted the harrowing scenes and distress.

Families of suicide victims often feel guilty. They ask whether the suicide would have happened had they taken a certain course of action. They sometimes blame themselves not realising that the suicide might have happened in any case. In many cases, families do not know the reason for the suicide, even years later. "Why" is the big question for families. Families and associates of victims often need help.

Not so long ago I attended a funeral of a young man who had committed suicide. I met his parents again last week and discovered they still ask why it happened. There were no signals. Perhaps the family will never know why it happened. At the man's wake, there was considerable anger among his friends. I could not figure out whom they were angry with. Was it with themselves, society or the young victim? I talked to some of the men and met some of them since in various locations, including the local club and pub, and noted the conversation always returns to the question of why the suicide occurred. The anger of some of the men was associated with their belief that there is nothing for them and no hope. Some asked why the victim had not talked to them. I have had similar conversations at one or two other funerals I attended.

Suicide does not affect just one group of people. While it is most prevalent among young men, which in itself is scary, it is a problem right across society. Quite successful people have committed or contemplated suicide because of a collapse of their business or relationship, for example. Some have attempted suicide and have not been successful. The problem arises right across society. It is partly a question of education. That we in the House are willing to talk about suicide is very important. Twenty years ago, the Dáil would not have discussed suicide to the extent we have discussed it. It was a taboo subject and people did not mention it, pretending it was not really happening. We now have a more enlightened society and this alone will help dissuade some people from committing suicide and bereaving their families.

The main step we need to take as a society is to listen a little more. In the past ten or 15 years, we have become inward-looking. We are too busy rushing here, there and everywhere and sometimes do not take the time to stop and listen to friends and those around us. If this message, which is the same as that of some of the groups that offer tremendous support to the distressed, can be sent out, it will be of benefit. I refer to suicide support groups such as Samaritans, Teen-Line and 1life.

A group I met recently is involved in online counselling. Not everybody wants to discuss problems over the telephone or on a face-to-face basis; some want to put their thoughts on paper. We should support every organisation that can help people. I congratulate all those who are involved in offering support. In many ways, theirs is a thankless task. Sometimes they come home distressed after having spent a few hours manning a telephone line. Every Member of the House ought to praise those who give up their time voluntarily to help people they have never met, and we ought to praise everybody else involved also.

There is a range of steps that the Government should take urgently. There should be a properly resourced suicide prevention strategy, which strategy might involve determining whether the time of all the relevant organisations has been put to the most effective use. There is a wide range of groups. They should be properly resourced and should have the skills and staff required to deliver the services they are advertising, such that the services of Teen-Line and Samaritans, for example, would be available morning, noon and night. Every group is struggling to raise money and to operate with existing resources.

The modernisation of the mental health legislation in line with the new convention on the rights of persons with disabilities is required. I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, will be able to introduce legislation in this regard in the near future. I am not expecting it to be introduced in her first couple of days in office. We need to promote a cross-departmental action group to combat social exclusion, prejudice and discrimination against people with mental health problems. We should ring-fence a certain proportion of the budget of the Department of Health and Children for mental health services in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation. The required child and adolescent community-based mental health service must be provided. The placement of children in adult inpatient facilities must cease, which means facilities must be created that are more appropriate to children than the facilities that were made available heretofore. It is disgraceful that some young people to whom I have spoken have ended up in inappropriate wards in hospitals and did not receive proper care because of a disconnect in the HSE over the years. There has been a failure to address the issue of suicide attempts, particularly among young people with suicidal tendencies. Many organisations are doing great work in the field of suicide prevention and counselling and they must be resourced properly.

The week before Easter, a group contacted me with a view to abolishing the stigma that surrounds mental illness. This is a useful goal. The organisation outlined certain stigmatising words that should not be used and which can lead to isolation among those who are trying to deal with mental illness. As a society, we are all responsible for the prevailing culture and need, as individuals, to make a conscious decision not to use certain words, such as "mad", "crazy", "bonkers", "psycho" and "schizo". There is a range of such words. I have heard my children and other children using them, albeit not understanding the consequences for those with mental health issues or those who may be struggling in life.

First and foremost, we must save lives. It is that simple. We must seek to prevent suicide in whatever steps we take. We do not wish to be attending funerals and consoling friends and families who have lost a loved one due to this society not being caring. For many years Ireland was known as Ireland of the welcomes. That welcome should not just extend to people from abroad but to everybody, including those with mental health problems. That means taking the time and making the space in our lives to address it.

I am a member of the Ballyfermot drugs task force and one of its initiatives is to train local people to spot the signs of possible suicide. It is a cost-effective programme and now 200 people have the training to watch out for signs that people, particularly young people, are contemplating or actively planning suicide and to know what steps to take. It is not that they interfere but they know where to direct the people concerned. Many of the problems in our society are due to the huge change whereby alcohol and drugs have taken a greater role in people's lives, particularly in the case of young people. That feeds into the national drugs strategy which will take on the alcohol issue when it is fully implemented and resourced.

It is useful and correct to address this issue in the House. As we give more attention to it hopefully the numbers will stabilise and start to reduce as quickly as possible. Ultimately, we must have a society in which people who feel under pressure, particularly young people, know they can talk to somebody, be it a relative, friend or somebody anonymous through a helpline or website. We should do whatever we can in this House.

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