Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)

According to the recently published provisional figures on suicide rates for 2010, 486 people died by suicide that year. For every individual who died, ten people were directly traumatised. For the purpose of making accurate international comparisons, undetermined deaths are included in the suicide rates. The figure for undetermined deaths last year was 123. Chooselife, which is the Scottish programme for suicide prevention and is regarded as very progressive in this area, advises that the inclusion of undetermined deaths protects against under-recording and provides more accurate figures for international and geographical comparisons. If we take this formula into account, 603 people died by suicide last year.

The substantial increase in recent years is directly associated with our economic difficulties. International research indicates that suicide rates increase by approximately 25% during times of recession. In 2009, the incidence of suicide in Ireland increased by 25%. Research in this area goes back to the 19th century. Mental ill health resulting from recession, loss of employment, reductions in income or eviction can stress family relationships and people often take solace in drug or alcohol abuse. The incidence of mental illness, especially depression, and suicide increase.

I welcome the programme for Government's commitment to ring-fence an additional €53 million per annum for implementing the recommendations set out in A Vision for Change. In 2010, only 5.3% of the total health budget was allocated to mental health services, compared to 13% in 1986, and A Vision for Change recommends that the allocation should be 8.4%. I suggest to the Minister for Health that €53 million per annum is inadequate to achieve the level of spending recommended and the commitment should be revisited.

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