John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)

I welcome the Minister of State. The last time I spoke about suicide in the House was May of this year and one of my primary concerns at that time was that statements would be reduced to a web of words and spun around numbers, namely, statistics, numbers of deaths and levels of investment. I tried to concentrate on the heart of the issue and completed my contribution without referring to a single statistic. It is with great relief, for want of a better word, that we are concentrating on an actual strategy this time. The bleak picture painted by statements dominated by numbers of deaths provided no optimism for bereaved families, society or policy makers.

No one could be criticised for saying no optimism is possible on the topic of suicide but I cannot accept that. I thank the Health Boards Executive, its director, Mr. Denis Doherty, the lead chief executive officer, Mr. Paul Robinson, the National Suicide Review Group under the chairmanship of Mr. Geoff Day, the steering and reference groups, the Department of Health and Children and the many others who contributed to this strategy. In doing so, they have shone a light on a truly bleak and dark issue. I specifically thank and congratulate the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Tim O'Malley, not just for his contribution today but for his ongoing dedication to tackling some of society's most difficult problems in his challenging portfolio and doing so with a quiet and effective determination that deserves great credit.

I was struck by the vision statement of the Reach Out strategy: "A society where life is valued across all age groups, where the young learn from and are strengthened by the experiences of others and where the needs of those who are going through a hard time are met in a caring way." When we see these words before us, it is quite stark as many assume this is the way society is. We take it for granted. However, the Reach Out strategy does us a great service by reminding us this is not the case. It reminds us to think about people, especially younger people who are experiencing a hard time.

This is something else we take for granted, namely, young people are universally exuberant, resilient, lively and up for a laugh or when they go through a down patch, it is just a mood, a phase, some trivial issue magnified by the naiveté of youth, that it will pass and there is no need for concern. The Reach Out strategy again does us a great service by reminding us this is not the case. For example, included in the strategy's list of some of the signs that someone may be in trouble is a sudden change in mood. When those involved are younger people, we should not glibly pass it over and put it down to typical teenage behaviour and mood swings.

The second important feature of the strategy is its quick movement from the valuable vision statement to the principle that the strategy is action focused, which brings me back to the dominating feeling of pessimism that shrouds this issue. The pessimism is based on the frequently arising question, "suicide is so awful, so incomprehensible, what can we do, what could we have done?". The need for action to help provide answers applies on two levels. At the higher strategic level, the fact that the strategy is practical, achievable, based on evidence and international best practice and will be the subject of ongoing regular evaluation to determine whether the expected outcomes have been achieved is crucial.

The next level involves the action for families and communities. The strategy correctly places this action in the context of the changing nature of the family unit, the move away from traditional extended family structures towards tighter nuclear and single parent families, increased pressure on parents and the consequent strains on relationships. This change in family structures is related to and compounded by changing work practices and living arrangements and locations. The Reach Out strategy wisely situates plans for actions in the context of these challenges to family cohesion. We yet again see a policy area become more and more complex as our society changes in terms of our interactions, communities, work and life balances. While these factors usually inform the House on discussions, such as on transport infrastructure, we are speaking about implications of life and death in this case. It is a serious matter but the strategy is so well put together that it comprehends these complex challenges and, to its immense credit, seeks to address them practically rather than leaving them floating and sustaining the aforementioned sense of helplessness and pessimism.

In recognition of our changing communities, the strategy suggests some practical measures, such as the delivery of community education on suicide prevention and mental health promotion, including public lecture series and awareness talks. These should include invited participation from specific occupations that are often well placed as gatekeepers within the community, such as taxi drivers, post office workers, shopkeepers and pharmacists. This considered and excellent strategy document contains many other examples of practical actions correctly placed in the context of all of the challenges to family cohesion and is to be commended on doing so.

It would be impossible in these few minutes to expand upon all the exceptional work contained in the strategy's 84 pages. When I last spoke on this subject, I concluded with the following words, "We must take every opportunity to get the message across that people should never feel there is nowhere to turn. Help is available and suicide is never the answer to whatever problems people encounter in modern Ireland". In essence, I was calling for people to reach out. The title of this strategy is apt and right. This is a two-way street. We must reach out to people at risk, younger people especially and younger men in particular. They must feel that when they reach out, a hand is there for them.

The importance of this two-way process is emphasised in the report, where it states:

It is important to stress that the general population approach to suicide prevention and targeting those who are known to be at increased risk should be complementary approaches. By effectively developing an anti-stigma campaign and by promoting awareness of positive mental health, the likelihood of vulnerable individuals with signs of mental health problems seeking help through the health services will increase.

We must do all we can, and I do not mean as policy makers but as members of society, members of our particular communities, consumers of media who can shape content, friends, relatives and even as strangers.

I cannot overstate the value of this strategy. I congratulate and thank all who worked on it. I sincerely hope it will lead us on the path to tackling this dreadful stigma in as much as it is possible to do so. This is both an imperative and a duty for all true members of society. I congratulate the Minister and the group who put the strategy together. Those of us who study the strategy and accept its recommendations must contribute in every way we can to its implementation within our communities and in society as a whole. On this day people can proudly state they made a valuable contribution to the strategy, as we continue in our fight to rid the country of this horrific stigma.