Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Health following the publication of the cross border report on suicide jointly funded by the National Office for Suicide Prevention and the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland, the action he will take to implement the recommendations in the report and the availability of sufficient funding and appointment of personnel with specific expertise to engage in intensive preventative programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6256/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I have received a copy of the recently published Report on the All-Ireland Young Men and Suicide Project and I am currently examining the recommendations contained in the Report. Dealing with the current high levels of suicide and deliberate self harm is a priority for this Government. Reach Out our National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention recognises the youth sector as a high risk group and sets out a number of specific actions. Consequently, the HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) has developed a range of initiatives aimed specifically at supporting young people who are suicidal and also supporting their peers in recognising and responding appropriately to signs of emotional distress and suicidal thoughts.

Key initiatives progressed by the NOSP in 2012 includetheprovision of a wide range of awareness and training programmes including safeTALK and ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Training) which trains participants to become more alert to the possibility of suicide in their community, the continuation of the National Awareness Campaigns which, last year, specifically targeted men and young men, the funding of partner agencies and projects, a number of which provide support services to young people, and the development of Guidance for Post Primary Schools on Mental Health & Suicide Prevention developed with the Department of Education and Skills which was launched last week.

The annual budget for suicide prevention has increased this year to over €13m, of which €8.1m is available to NOSP to fund voluntary and statutory agencies delivering services in the area of prevention, intervention, postvention and research and the remaining €5m is available regionally to fund Resource Officers for Suicide Prevention, Self-Harm Liaison Nurses in Hospital Emergency Departments and local suicide prevention initiatives. The Department of Health is currently in discussions with the NOSP to develop a programme of measures that will reduce the tragic loss of life through suicide. The implementation of the recommendations contained in the Young Men and Suicide Project Report will be considered in the context of those discussions.