Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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112. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the work of the multidisciplinary group set up in 2016 to combat the recent spate of suicides in Cork; and his plans for a statewide framework for tackling such crises in the future [4630/17]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In response to concerns about a number of deaths in Cork in 2016, a co-ordinated approach led by the Health Service Executive Head of Mental Health services for Cork and Kerry involving HSE Suicide Prevention Officers, Community Workers, and HSE Psychologists linking with voluntary partners was initiated. As of the 23rd of December there were four confirmed suicides in this region over the previous two months. The HSE has confirmed that the following has taken place since late November and is planned for the coming weeks:

- A multiagency meeting took place in Cork City Hall on the 5th of December. The HSE Head of Mental Health CHO Cork/Kerry presented on behalf of the HSE outlining the co-ordinated multi-organisation response to suicides put in place in Cork city since October 2016 in response to the rise in suicides;

- The group involved in the co-ordinated response to date continue to provide tailored support to communities and individuals affected by these suicides, responding to the needs identified by the community/individual themselves. This has included talks in GAA clubs, provision of SafeTalk training in community centres, meeting with school principals, a Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention meeting with individual families and with childcare services, and the fast tracking of adolescents identified as being at risk to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services;

- Led by the Communications Manager in CHO Cork /Kerry there has been continued monitoring of media reporting of suicide and issuing statements to address any inaccurate reporting. Media reporting is now much more aligned with the responsible reporting guidelines on suicide and is including details of helpline numbers and access to crisis services;

- The HSE Head of Service for Mental Health CHO Cork/Kerry has arranged a "lessons learned" session for all those involved in the multi-organisation co-ordinated response to date to review what has been done since October, which is due to take place on the 7 of March.

This response is reflective of how the current state-wide framework in place across the country operates. The National Office for Suicide Prevention is responsible for the coordination of suicide prevention initiatives around the country, as well as the implementation of the national suicide prevention strategy. This national suicide prevention strategy, ‘Connecting for Life’, sets out a vision where fewer lives are lost through suicide, and where communities and individuals are empowered to improve their mental health and well-being. This includes a greater focus on the important area of support for families and communities in suicide prevention, and providing community-based organisations with guidelines, protocols and training on effective suicide prevention.