Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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642. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to compile information in relation to the number of persons who were in psychiatric units or hospitals and were subsequently released or discharged and committed suicide shortly thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2912/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The increasing number of deaths by suicide is of great concern to this Government. The challenge of suicide prevention is an urgent issue facing society and reducing the suicide rate is a priority. National mortality data including that relating to suicide is published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). This data is made available on a quarterly and annual basis and is categorised by age, gender and county. A number of sources of information are used by the CSO to inform the classification of death including the Medical Cause of Death Certificate, the Coroner's certificate and Form 104, a statistical form which is completed by An Garda Síochána following an inquest. The information requested by the Deputy on the number of deaths by suicide of persons who are no longer in the care of the Mental Health Service is not compiled by the HSE.