Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide a progress report on the implementation of Reach Out, the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35901/06]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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The actions identified in Reach Out, the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention are to be implemented over the next 5 to 10 years. The Health Service Executive (HSE) is taking a lead role in overseeing the implementation of Reach Out, in partnership with those statutory and voluntary organisations that have a key role to play in making the actions happen. The HSE established the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) to oversee the implementation of the strategy.

There are just over 90 action points in Reach Out, and they are divided into 3 phases for implementation. Phase 1 covers 30 actions which are to be implemented over the next 3 years. The NOSP 12-point action plan for 2006 is as follows:

prepare for the launch, early in 2007, of a national mental well-being campaign in conjunction with non-governmental organisations;

ensure full coverage in hospital A&E departments of appropriate services to respond to presentations of deliberate self harm;

development and delivery of training and awareness programmes for communities, organisations and professionals;

support the development of bereavement services;

address the outcome of research undertaken by the National Suicide Research Foundation into appropriate methods of data collection relating to suicides;

complete research into the link between institutional abuse and suicide;

pilot a primary Care/Deliberate Self Harm Service;

work with the media to improve reporting of suicide and deliberate self harm;

agree a national programme of appropriate research on suicide prevention in Ireland;

explore ways of reaching young people through email, text messaging in order to develop a sustainable support service;

establish a national forum of key stakeholders who will be briefed by the National Office for Suicide Prevention on the achievements overall in suicide prevention and, in particular, in relation to strategy implementation; and

commission research into the link between traveller health and suicide.

The first annual report of the National Office, outlining suicide prevention activities in 2005 was published in September 2006. It details activities in 26 areas covering general population, targeted approach, responding to suicide and information and research. This annual report will meet the requirement of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2001 which requires a report on activities in the area of suicide prevention to be presented to the houses of the Oireachtas each year. This annual report will provide an important tool in monitoring progress in meeting the priority objectives of the Strategy and in reporting on rates of suicidal behaviour, which it is hoped will be significantly reduced over the coming years.