Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Connecting for Life, 2015-2024, is Ireland’s National Strategy to Reduce Suicide. The Strategy focuses on the prevention of suicidal behaviour and addresses a broad range of risk and protective factors.

The HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) is responsible for the implementation of Connecting for Life, overseen by a Cross-Sectoral Implementation and Monitoring Steering Group chaired by the Department of Health, with representation from departments, agencies and NGO partners who have commitments to deliver on various actions in the Strategy.

Following an independent mid-term review, in November 2020 Cabinet approved extending the Strategy from 2020 to 2024.

Reflecting the complex process of implementing an inter-departmental and cross-agency strategy there have been three implementation plans for Connecting for Life to date. The plans have ensured a structured approach to implementation and enable coordination across government departments and agencies on key actions in the strategy.

As Connecting for Life is now drawing to a close, an evaluation of its implementation is now being conducted, having been commissioned by NOSP. The evaluation will help assess how well the Strategy has been implemented and the extent to which its activities have contributed to reduced suicide rate and reduced rates of self-harm, in the whole population and amongst priority groups. The evaluation will be considering the implementation process of the strategy, and an outcomes evaluation to consider the impact of the strategy. The study is due for completion in Q1 2025. The report of the evaluation and the learnings from Connecting for Life will inform the successor strategy to Connecting for Life, and the Department of Health has now commenced work on the development of this new suicide prevention strategy.