Ten-year programme planned to reduce suicide rates
The Government has announced a national suicide-prevention programme.
The 10-year programme will involve an investment of €500,000 from the Department of Health and Children.
The strategy aims to reduce the levels of suicide in Ireland through the establishment of a National Office for Suicide Prevention.
The programme will promote positive mental health in the general population, as well as tackling specific groups such as young men, prisoners and the unemployed.
It will also involve the delivery of a national intervention skills training programme and the creation of services for treating deliberate self-harm in accident and emergency departments.
Bereavement support services will also be provided as part of the strategy to help those affected by suicide.
According to figures from the Central Statistics Office, the Irish suicide rate has doubled since the early 1980s and the average number of suicide deaths is 494 annually.
