Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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365. To ask the Minister for Health his role, if any, in developing suicide prevention strategies among Irish emigrants in the United Kingdom; and his future plans in this regard. [27346/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Dealing with the current high levels of suicide and deliberate self-harm is a priority for this Government. On 24 June the Taoiseach and I launched Connecting for Life - Ireland’s National Strategy to Reduce Suicide 2015 – 2020. This new Strategy, which succeeds and builds upon Reach Outour previous suicide prevention strategy, is based on current national and international evidence in relation to effective suicide prevention strategies. It sets out two primary outcomes, which include reduced suicide rate in the whole population and amongst specified priority groups; reduced rate of presentations of self-harm in the whole population and amongst specified priority groups.

While I do not have a role in relation to suicide prevention strategies in other jurisdictions, I can assure the Deputy that there is ongoing information sharing on best practice between the HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention and colleagues in the United Kingdom in relation to suicide prevention. In addition, officials from my Department and the National Office work closely with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland. There are many areas where the two jurisdictions collaborate to mutual benefit, including research, evaluation, awareness raising, piloting new approaches, sharing learning and good practice.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), through the Emigrant Support Programme, supports organisations which help the most vulnerable among our emigrant communities. Supported projects include those which deliver improved mental health and help access statutory mental health services, in particular for those with complex needs, newly–arrived emigrants and the elderly. DFAT also provides direct consular assistance to individuals on a variety of issues, which may include mental health.