Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 610: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding strategies and actions taken to prevent suicide. [32199/10]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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'A Vision for Change' describes a framework for building and fostering positive mental health across the entire community and for providing accessible, community-based, specialist services for people with mental illness. 'Reach Out' the National Strategy for Action on Suicide calls for a multi-sectoral approach to the prevention of suicidal behaviour in order to foster cooperation between health, education, community, voluntary and private sector agencies. Implementation of these Strategies is a matter for the HSE. Initiatives which have been progressed by the HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) include:

the development and implementation of national training programmes — to date approximately 18,000 people have been trained in the 2 day ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) internationally recognised programme and over 2,000 have been trained in the half day SafeTalk programme;

development of a media monitoring mechanism;

availability of self-harm services through Hospital Emergency Departments;

implementing recommendations arising from a review of bereavement services;

supporting voluntary organisations working in the field of suicide prevention;

developing mental health awareness campaigns — 'Your Mental Health' awareness campaign and the 'Let some one know' campaign aimed at young people.

an information booklet entitled 'Suicide Prevention in the Workplace' which provides organisations and workplaces with practical guidance on how to respond to and support persons who are at risk of suicidal behaviour has been made available.

On 1 September the Government announced additional funding of almost €1million under the Dormant Accounts Fund for a programme of suicide prevention measures. The initiatives being funded will help communities to develop integrated local action plans for suicide prevention and will enhance the ability of communities to prevent suicidal behaviour at all levels of risk, and are consistent with 'Reach Out'.

In April this year, I was pleased to launch a National Stigma Reduction Campaign, 'See Change'. The aim of 'See Change' is to positively change social attitudes and behaviour, to inspire people to challenge their beliefs about mental illness and to be more open in their attitudes and behaviour and to encourage people in distress to seek help. A network of national and local organisations across the country will carry the anti-stigma message through local broadcasts, local print media and a range of other activities.