Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in providing appropriately trained multi-disciplinary teams on a 24 hour basis to cater for persons who present themselves at hospital accident and emergency departments with suicidal tendencies or attempted suicide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24029/07]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for the implementation of "Reach Out" the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention, which was published in September 2005, rests with the HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP). The Minister and the National Office are fully committed to the implementation of the strategy.

Significant additional funding of €3.05 million was provided in 2006 and 2007 which brings the total funding available to support suicide prevention initiatives in 2007 to €8 million. This funding is being used to develop and implement national training programmes, complete the availability of self-harm services through A&E Departments, launch the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign, implement recommendations arising from a review of bereavement services and support voluntary organisations working in the field of suicide prevention.

There are currently 32 posts of specialist nurses in Accident and Emergency Departments to respond to deliberate self-harm presentations. The National Suicide Research Foundation in Cork are currently looking at best practice in this area in order to standardise the approach to service delivery.

A National Registry of Deliberate Self-Harm has been operating in general hospitals in the Republic of Ireland since 2001. Their 2005 Annual Report indicates that 10,227 people presented in A&E having self harmed. While 60% were assessed by a mental health professional 23% received psycho-social assessment from A&E staff and the remainder left before a next care recommendation could be made. Following treatment in the A&E Department inpatient admission was recommended for 56% ie. general and psychiatric admission. One third of cases were discharged following treatment in A&E.