Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 390: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the report of the National Suicide Research Foundation which indicated increased levels of deliberate self harm here between 2007 and 2008; her views on the large increases in deliberate self harm among young boys and girls aged ten to 14 years of 35% and among young men aged 15 to 19 years of 18%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30513/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The number of deliberate self-harm presentations reported in 2008 was 11,700 which represented a 6% increase on 2007 figures. There was a significant increase in deliberate self-harm rates in the age groups 10-14 and 15-19. In the age category 10-14 there were a total of 260 deliberate self-harm presentations of which 63 were boys and 197 were girls. This figure represents an overall increase of 39% on 2007 figures. In the age category 15-19 there were a total of 1,704 presentations of which 648 were boys and 1,056 were girls. This figure represents an overall increase of 9% on 2007 figures - 16.3% among boys and 5% among girls.

The increase in the number and rate of deliberate self-harm presentations is a concern. However, a number of initiatives have been developed by the HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention to address the issue, including the development of an awareness campaign aimed at young people. Consultations with young people were arranged under the auspices of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to inform the campaign and a report on the outcomes of this process - 'Teenage Mental Health: What helps? and What hurts? was launched on 15th June 2009. The campaign, which will take account of the high rate of deliberate self-harm among young people, is expected to be launched on 12th October 2009.

There is progression in the availability of deliberate self-harm services through Hospital Emergency departments and development of a standardised approach to deliberate self harm presentations at Hospital Emergency departments. In this regard, the National Office and the National Suicide Research Foundation will jointly host a meeting in October aimed at standardising the approach to deliberate self-harm presentations. There is development of technology-based initiatives such as a Samaritans texting service, an on-line counselling directory website and on-line treatments for depression.