Millions Needed To Fund Suicide Prevention

Three people die everyday in Ireland as a result of suicide - a figure that represents a national crisis.

As a result, €10m is needed to fund suicide prevention initiatives in the Irish Republic, a Government Watchdog has insisted.

Calling on the Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, to provide for such funds in next week's Budget, the Action On Suicide Alliance insists that the Government provides adequate resourcing for national, regional and local suicide prevention projects.

“More than 900 people die by suicide on the island of Ireland each year, that’s approximately three people per day, and many more attempt suicide or engage in deliberate self harm,” said John Saunders, chairman of the Action On Suicide Alliance.

“It is quite clear that the rate of suicide in Ireland is now a national crisis," he said, demanding a concerted response from Government.

While welcoming the prioritisation of suicide prevention measures by the Minister for State at the Dept of Health, Jimmy Devins, the Alliance is seeking this prioritisation to be underpinned by significant financial resources to reduce, in a meaningful way, the numbers of people who die by suicide in Ireland.

The Action On Suicide Alliance comprises of 3TS, Amnesty International Irish Section, Bodywhys – The Eating Disorder Association of Ireland, Console, Irish Advocacy Network, Irish Mental Health Coalition, Let’s Get Together Foundation, Living Links, Schizophrenia Ireland, SpunOut, and Teen-Line Ireland.

The Alliance is also supporting the Government in pursuing closer co-operation with the Northern Ireland Assembly on a range of health issues, including an all-Ireland approach to the issue of suicide prevention.

(BMcC)