Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

I am not certain that one can discuss the issue of suicide enough, particularly when one considers the scourge it has become in communities. For this reason, I appreciate the opportunity to make a statement on suicide prevention. The importance of exploring the causes of and ways of dealing with suicide cannot be over-emphasised. A suicide is a tragic and shattering occurrence that not only brings a life to an untimely end, but also has a devastating impact on family, friends and communities. The increasing number of deaths by suicide is of great concern. While discussion around suicide tends to be dominated by statistics, it is important that we remember the human factor. Each death is someone's loved one and statistics cannot capture the grief and desolation of those left behind. The unanswered questions of "Why?", "What if?" and "If only" will always remain.

There is not a community that has not been affected by the trauma and despair that surrounds suicide. We know that reducing suicide rates requires a collective, concerted effort and, most important, a collaborative approach. The Government is committed to fostering and building on the existing levels of all-island co-operation in the interests of promoting positive mental health and tackling the issue of suicide. In saying this, it is impossible to have a debate about suicide prevention without recognising the number of people who have died by suicide. Provisional data for 2009 shows a record number of 527 recorded suicides. When I see this number I always close my eyes and think of a small town because it equates to the population of a small town being wiped out. While there was a slight decrease to 486 in the provisional figures for 2010, the number of deaths remains unacceptably high.

Suicide is not only a mental health issue. Many factors contribute to the rise in suicides, including the economic downturn, unemployment, the breakdown of relationships and financial difficulties. One study shows that a 1% increase in unemployment leads to a 0.79% increase in suicides. It is important that we recognise that since 2007, there has been a particularly high increase in the number of deaths by suicide of men in the 35 to 54 years age group. While there is an increase in the number of women dying by suicide, the numbers are still significantly lower than in the male population. The current economic circumstances are undoubtedly having an effect on mental health and well-being. Our young adult population who grew up in a time of prosperity when work and opportunities were plentiful are particularly affected by this downturn in our financial circumstances. One readily understands the devastation that can occur when one considers the relative speed with which the recession hit and its severity and very high impact on lives, particularly of those with young families who acquired large mortgages in the preceding years and then suffered the hardship of unemployment. In such circumstances, the shock to the system for many was overpowering.

As Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, I am working closely with the Health Service Executive and voluntary agencies to introduce initiatives to address much more effectively and appropriately the issue of mental health and suicide. The total funding available in 2011 nationally through the HSE for suicide prevention was about €9 million, of which €4.1 million was available to the National Office for Suicide Prevention and approximately €5 million was available regionally to fund resource officers for suicide prevention, self-harm liaison nurses in hospital emergency departments and local suicide prevention initiatives. The funding provided in this area in 2011 included a special allocation of €1 million specifically to target initiatives to address the increasing incidence of suicide and deliberate self-harm which allowed the HSE to focus on further developing skills based training and awareness programmes in suicide prevention, improving the response to those who deliberately self-harm, developing the capacity of primary care to deal adequately with those presenting with suicidal behaviours and enhancing interagency co-ordination.