A SUICIDE prevention officer should be appointed as part of a more robust approach to counter Northern Ireland’s rising rates of self-harm, Assembly members have been told.
A report prepared by the Stormont Department of Health and Public Safety, published yesterday, recommended that existing structures should be strengthened by the establishment of a designated suicide prevention directorate.
Iris Robinson, who chairs the committee, said: “Based on the evidence given to the committee, we believe that closer co-operation within and across a range of government departments will enable [the department] to achieve its goals of preventing suicide and self-harm.”
The Strangford Assembly member added: “We believe that involving churches, local authorities, and sports groups in the delivery of the strategy, as well as ring-fencing project funds for the next three years, will all aid its success. The extension of educational initiatives to equip young people with ‘coping skills’ is also an important strand in preventing both suicide and self-harm in our young people.”
The report was critical of the replication of a Belfast telephone helpline service across the rest of the North before its effectiveness was properly studied.
The number of lives lost through suicide has increased dramatically from an average of 150 between 1999 and 2004 to 291 by 2006. The report also called for more training to be provided to those in contact with people at risk from suicide and self harm.
Carmel Hanna (SDLP) said the recommendations should be acted on as a matter of priority. Kieran McCarthy, Alliance health spokes- man, said: “I would strongly welcome a timeframe indicating the action that will be taken by the Executive.”
Sinn Féin’s John O’Dowd said: “What we have to do is ensure that resources are made available to the various departments who have to deal with this and we support the way forward.”
Ulster Unionist Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said suicide must be tackled as part of the wider strategy to improve mental health and wellbeing.