Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 178: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there are plans to increase and fund suicide prevention services, including ensuring access to suicide prevention service in hospitals and provision for people affected by eating disorders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27138/07]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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, develop mental health awareness campaigns, 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 Vision for Change" provides a framework for action to develop a modern, high quality mental health service over a 7 to 10 year period. It acknowledges gaps in the current provision of services for people with eating disorders and makes several recommendations for the further improvement of these services.

Recommendations include support for health promotion initiatives that encourage greater community and family awareness of eating disorders, the further development of primary and community care services and the provision of a full multidisciplinary team in a National Centre for Eating Disorders for complex cases that cannot be managed by local child and adolescent community mental health teams. Responsibility for the implementation of these recommendations rests with the HSE.

An additional €25 million was provided to the HSE in 2007, €750,000 of which is for developing services for eating disorders. Some €500,000 of this funding was provided to enhance the service in the Elm Mount Unit, St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin which will provide a national service to support local services in addressing eating disorders. The balance of €250,000 has been allocated to HSE South to commence the development of an eating disorder service.