Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a tragic phenomenon that has affected so many areas around the country, not just young people but older people as well. It is hard to disagree with anybody who says we have to do more in terms of a national conversation to deal with the many problems people have. I talked to people involved in third level and many of the services they offer are unable to cope with the fragility of many young people. Our young people display a remarkable confidence yet they are also very fragile and talk about mental health issues in a way that previous generations never did. The appointment of a Minister dealing specifically with mental health opens the opportunity to have these discussions and the budget of the national suicide prevention office has been doubled since 2011. The total allocation for mental health will be €851.3 million in 2017. That will not bring anybody back but it is an increase of €140 million on what was there before.

Deputy Martin is right to speak of his own area, which he knows better than most. I offer my sympathy and condolences to families affected by this spate of suicides. Over the past few weeks, concerns have been raised by HSE staff and communities about the number of deaths in the Togher and Ballyphehane area of the south side of Cork city. A co-ordinated approach, led by the HSE head of mental health services for Cork and Kerry and involving HSE suicide prevention officers, community workers and HSE psychologists and linking with the voluntary sector, has been initiated and a community meeting took place on 14 November. That group is working very closely with the two schools that are affected and close friends, relatives and school and work colleagues of the deceased have been identified and offered support and counselling, while two individuals have been identified as requiring immediate support and their families have been contacted by the child and adolescent mental health services. The HSE suicide prevention officer has made direct contact with the staff in both schools and established links between schools with community-based services such as Pieta House and the National Educational Psychological Service. The schools have offered immediate one-on-one sessions with any vulnerable student and the suicide crisis assessment nurse in the area has been briefed by the local suicide prevention officer, which means that local GPs will also have the relevant information. A new Jigsaw hub is to be opened in Cork and the national task force on youth mental health has been established, one of whose main aims is to increase awareness, not only of mental health but of the assistance that is also available for young people throughout the country. I have some more information about Cork which I can provide in response to the Deputy's supplementary question.

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