Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I wish to advise colleagues that Sunday next, 10 October, is World Mental Health Day, the objective of which is to create greater public awareness and understanding of mental health and mental illness issues. Despite the fact that people are prepared to discuss the issues of suicide and self-harm to a much greater degree, there remains a high level of ignorance and sharp criticism and intolerance of those who suffer from mental illness. When addressing a conference on suicide in Sligo on Monday last, Professor Keith Hawton, professor of psychiatry at Oxford University and also director of the centre for suicide research there, stated hospital staff tended to view patients who presented in accident and emergency departments following incidents of self-harm in a poor light. He also stated minor intervention could assist in preventing repeated self-harm and suicide. Training and knowledge are critical in understanding human beings and the pressure under which they operate. There has been an increase in the levels of suicide and self-harm in the past two years. Much of the increase is due to the economic recession.

I draw attention to an article by Councillor John O'Shea - the youngest member of Cork County Council - which appeared in The Corkman newspaper, in which he indicates that he attended an ASIST course at IRD Duhallow and states his commitment is to cater for the needs of the communities in Leharn and Lombardstown, County Cork. He also states the course took the form of a two-day workshop which focused on applied suicide intervention measures which educated him in how to interact and connect with people who may be feeling suicidal, invite them to explore and discuss their feelings and, with their consent, increase their immediate safety by offering the necessary resources and support. In conjunction with the level of alcohol consumption and the economic recession, this is one of the most important issues the country faces. I want all Members to look out for their friends and people they know and talk to them to discover if they are depressed or lonely. One should not be afraid to ask a person if he or she is depressed or feeling suicidal. I recently found myself in the position of being able to provide assistance for someone in trouble. This is a critical issue.