Written answers

Thursday, 17 October 2013

Department of Health

Suicide Prevention

Photo of Patrick NultyPatrick Nulty (Dublin West, Independent)
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216. To ask the Minister for Health the reason only one of the eight key recommendations of the Reach Out National Suicide Prevention Strategy has been implemented in full; when all the recommendations in the strategy will be fully implemented; the action he is taking to ensure that the Strategy is fully implemented without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44022/13]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Reach Out our National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention 2005-2014 comprises of four levels of action i.e. - general population approach; targeted approach; responding to suicide; and information and research. It contains 26 action areas and 96 recommendations.

The HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) was established in 2005 on foot of a recommendation in Reach Out and its role is to oversee the implementation of Reach Out and to coordinate suicide prevention initiatives around the country. The NOSP is advised and guided by an advisory group comprising individuals with considerable knowledge and expertise in the areas of suicide prevention, mental health promotion and bereavement support.

Since 2011, funding for the NOSP has increased significantly from €4 million in 2011 to €7.9 million in 2013. This increase in funding along with the additional investment in mental health has led to work being progressed on almost every recommendation in Reach Out including the following actions:

- Supporting over 40 individual organisations and programmes both internal and external to the HSE. This increase in funding has focused on resourcing front line services for persons who are in emotional distress, who have engaged in self harm or who have been bereaved through suicide. Many of these services are being delivered by Non-Governmental Organisation sector with direct funding from the NOSP, i.e. Pieta House, Samartians and Console.

- Working to build the capacity of frontline services providers and communities to respond to suicide through the delivery of a number of suicide prevention training programmes i.e. over 42,000 participants have completed the ASSIT and safeTALK programmes. In addition, the NOSP has invested significantly in the development of Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) services across community mental health teams.

- The NOSP resourced the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) to implement a training programme on suicide prevention for GPs and general practice staff. International evidence highlights GP training in depression and the management of suicidal behaviour as critical to reducing suicide rates.

- The development of the National Clinical Care Programme for Self Harm in Emergency Departments and the SCAN (Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse) service.

- The delivery of two effective social marketing campaigns on mental health that have changed public attitudes and behaviours related to help seeking and mental health. The NOSP is also working to develop a new national communication strategy for suicide prevention.

- The NOSP is currently working with the Irish Association of Suicidology and other partners to develop national standards for service providers that will improve the quality and safety of funded services.

- The NOSP in partnership with the Department of Education and Skills launched the Well-Being in Post Primary Schools Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention. These guidelines have been distributed to schools and health services on a nationwide basis.

- The HSE is implementing the CIPC (Counselling in Primary Care) programme. This national service was launched in 2013 and is delivering counselling to medical card holders at a primary care level.

The NOSP publishes an Annual Report outlining its activities which is laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Annual Report for 2012 was published on 5 September 2013.

The NOSP has been reviewing its current activities to make the most of our available resources, including looking at best practice internationally to inform evidence-based policy decisions. The review will result in a new Framework which will build on work already undertaken under Reach Out. Its aim will be to support population health approaches and interventions that will assist in reducing the loss of life through suicide. This renewed focus will provide for improved coordination and integration of services to ensure that pathways of care for persons at risk of suicide or in suicidal crisis can be accessible, acceptable and available.

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