Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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143. To ask the Minister for Health his response to the successful piloted BeLonG To, the Health Service Executive's safe and supportive school initiative, which recently launched its successful findings of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10742/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The LGBT Safe and Supportive Schools Project model, jointly implemented by BeLonG To and HSE, was successfully piloted in two schools in Donegal during the 2013/2014 year and as a result of this, the model has now been launched nationally.

LGBT individuals are one of the priority groups identified in Connecting for Life,Ireland’s national strategy to reduce suicide, as being at increased risk of suicidal behaviour. Initiatives such as this reinforce our national mental health policy A Vision for Change's focus on building and fostering positive mental health, and are illustrative of our continued commitment to improving the nation’s mental health.