Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The World Health Organization published its first report on suicide prevention this month. The World Health Organization speaks for and addresses 193 countries. In her personal introduction to the report on prevention of suicide, Dr. Margaret Chan, the director general of the organisation, stated:

Despite an increase in research and knowledge about suicide and its prevention, the taboo and stigma surrounding suicide persists, and often people do not seek help or are left alone. And if they do seek help, many health systems and services fail to provide timely and effective help.

Dr. Chan's words are addressed to the 193 countries around the world, but they resonate in local communities throughout Ireland. She offers hope because she says suicide can be prevented. A total of 550 people died from suicide in the Twenty-six Counties last year, which is over ten people per week. It is a frightening thought. We must prioritise measures to help the prevention of suicide in Ireland. Dr. Chan says that with timely and effective evidence-based intervention, treatment and support, both suicide and attempted suicide can be prevented. Ireland must update its national suicide prevention strategy to reflect the World Health Organization's recommendations. At its heart is the crying need for timely access for all citizens, rich and poor, with suicidal thoughts to medical and psychiatric help.

There is an emerging trend of slow change, with more openness in Ireland to talking about mental health and suicide and the emergence of community based initiatives such as Living Links, which provides support for families of those at risk. However, the bottom line is that we are a failed democracy. We live in cloud cuckoo land about our country. We will not have a true liberal democracy unless there is access for all our citizens, rich or poor. As was said yesterday, there are waiting lists for people with disabilities and for mental health and psychiatric services. The horror of the reality in this country is that in many towns in Ireland there is no psychiatric help available for people with suicidal thoughts.