Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank both Deputies for raising this important issue. Any loss to suicide is a tragedy and I send my deepest condolences to the families, friends and communities affected. Each suicide affects the entire community and it is important that strong supports are in place to help the families, friends and the community. Last year, there were 421 deaths by suicide in Ireland; 317 were male and 104 were female.

The devastation that causes to each and every family cannot be even put into words. Tackling suicide is a Government priority.

Connecting for Life, CfL, the national strategy to reduce suicide, takes a whole-of-government approach. A cross-sectoral steering group, comprising Departments, agencies and NGOs, supports the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention, NOSP, in implementing the strategy. Work is under way to extend the strategy for a further four years, from 2020 to 2024. A memo will go to the Government in the next week in that regard.

NOSP co-ordinates suicide prevention efforts throughout the country and implements Connecting for Life. NOSP funding has increased from €3.7 million in 2010 to the current €13 million. This funds activities including suicide prevention resource officers, local response plans, Connecting for Life actions, suicide prevention training and counselling provided through the HSE and partner agencies.

Under Connecting for Life, 17 local CfL plans have been launched, including the Connecting for Life Dublin South Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2018-2020. Community healthcare organisation, CHO, Dublin south, Kildare and west Wicklow works with local communities to respond to suspected suicides. Responses include supports to families in the aftermath of suicide and needs at community level. Throughout Dublin south, services promote positive mental health and address people's mental health needs. These include adult, child and adolescent specialist mental health services, suicide prevention supports and primary care services, including counselling in primary care.

In addition, the HSE funds Dublin south partner agencies to provide support and build resilience. These include: Candle Community Trust, Aware, Belong To, Mental Health Ireland, Pieta, the Samaritans, and Suicide or Survive. The three local resource officers for suicide prevention in Dublin south, Kildare and west Wicklow are involved with local mental health promotion and training. In 2018 to 2019, nearly 4,000 people in the Dublin south area were trained to enhance the community's capacity to respond to suicide and self-harm.

In February 2020, NOSP commissioned a rapid assessment of suicides among young women in south and west Dublin in 2019. Both Deputies referred to it. The report noted many contributory factors to suicide, including low income, unemployment, housing, domestic violence, social media, substance misuse and underlying trauma. In response to this report, an interagency group has been formed to develop a work plan to carry out its recommendations.

I was really shocked when I learned recently that two thirds of the 421 people who died due to suicide last year were not availing of any mental health supports. For some reason those people felt they could not reach out for the supports, the supports may not have been made available to them, or they might have fallen between the cracks. That is something that I am very conscious of.

In direct response to the question, €15,000 has been given by HSE mental health for a training programme to support young women's resilience and mental health. This will be tendered and run as an initial pilot in 2021. In addition, a community leadership programme in Ballyfermot will train local residents to recognise and support community members who may be experiencing suicidal ideation. This approach has proved successful in Jobstown, with a significant reduction in suicide. I again thank the Deputies for giving me the opportunity to speak on this issue. I will respond further to their questions.

See this speech in context