The use of school-based education programmes is a vital tool in tackling the epidemic of suicide among Ireland's young people, according to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
"What we need to do is use the research carried out into suicide over the past 10 years and to provide good educational programmes so that friends will recognise the symptoms of problems in friends, and families will see them in family members," Mr Ahern said.
The Taoiseach was speaking after he attended, as guest of honour, a Fianna Fáil breakfast in Cork on Friday to benefit the National Suicide Research Foundation whose task is to conduct research into the risk and protective factors of suicidal behaviour and the efficacy of treatment and prevention programmes.
"Some suicides are totally unexplained, particularly among young men and sometimes they are a result of the pressures of life or are drug related, I've been told," he said.
"In modern society, suicide is a phenomenon of other countries as well as Ireland, but I do believe that if we continue to analyse the research and engage in preventative work in the schools, we can make a difference," said Mr Ahern.
He paid tribute to the excellent work carried out by the National Suicide Research Foundation since its establishment in 1995 by the late Dr Michael J Kelleher, only two years after suicide was decriminalised in the Republic.
"I have been involved with most of the foundation's initiatives and launches over the past number of years," he said.
" I think there has been an enormous change in attitude in Ireland in relation to suicide and a huge amount of research in the area.
"However, I think it will be many years before we know what is causing the problem," he said.
The Taosieach said he had lost three very close friends and although there was "some kind of reason" for the first man to take such an action, it was impossible to understand what had caused his other two friends to take their own lives.
"There are thousands of people the length and breadth of this country facing similar experiences," he said.
"There seems to be so many cases in my own constituency alone, so many young people.
"It's important that we try to support those who are working in the area of research and in developing new school-based, problem-solving programmes to try to prevent suicidal behavior."
Margaret Kelleher, medical director of the National Suicide Research Foundation and wife of the late Dr Michael Kelleher, explained that many of the recommendations of the National Taskforce on Suicide had now been acted upon, including the appointment of resource officers to the HSE regional areas and the establishment of a registry of self-harm.
"The registry produces a report every year now and the figures are startling," she said.
"In excess of 11,000 people present at accident and emergency departments each year having deliberately self-harmed and the highest number are in the 15-18 age group.
"Even sadder is the number of young males who are taking their own lives," she said.
Ms Kelleher said the proceeds of Friday's breakfast would go directly towards the National Suicide Research Foundation's Mind Yourself project, which is a school-based programme that aims to develop young people's problem-solving skills as well as reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and suicidal behaviour.