Imelda Henry (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House to discuss this important issue. I know many families who have lost somebody through suicide. County Leitrim has one of the highest rates of suicide in this country. I will not repeat what many others have said in this debate because the points they made have been very good. Education from a young age is very important. I refer to education in primary schools. There are programmes on alcohol abuse and cyber-abuse, but we also need to educate children about mental illness and depression.

We need to educate them about mental illness and depression. At the start of the school day, when pupils said their prayers, a young boy in fifth class stood up and prayed for a friend of his father who had died by suicide. Some of the children in the class did not know what suicide was. Education is, therefore, very important. Depression is a common illness and affects children, teenagers and adults, young and old. It can only be overcome by proper treatment. Teenagers and young people need immediate access to help. This is a problem because we do not have the resources to provide help immediately. No child or adult should have to wait for help because in many cases it would be too late.