Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It might be worthwhile providing alternative beverages for people when they are out. It is not all about getting drunk.

Senator Cáit Keane spoke about the shocking report on suicide. We are all aware of the statistics. Senator David Norris referred to the need for urgency, which is missing from the debate. We need to address the issue in a serious way in the coming year. Early intervention is something we cannot discount and we have to look out for our colleagues. We have learned in the most horrendous way about the importance of looking after one another. In the case of young men who are the subject of the report, it is more difficult. Females are more inclined to be emotional and it is more acceptable for them to be so, but when a man is emotional, he is seen as having something wrong with him. The stigma needs to be removed for all workers. We need to look after one another across society and watch out for the signs because they can be apparent.