The Health Service Executive (HSE) is preparing to establish a national office on suicide prevention to help reduce the number of people who take their own lives every year.
The new office, to be headed by a former senior health board official, will co-ordinate, resource and administer the work of suicide prevention across the State. It will also be responsible for promoting positive mental health.
The establishment of the new agency is a key recommendation in the Government's 10-year strategy on suicide prevention to be published this week, The Irish Times has learned.
Reach Out - the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention will be published at a time of growing concern over suicide levels. Suicide was responsible for the deaths of 457 people last year.
It aims to reduce the levels of suicide through preventative measures, aimed at the general population, such as education, training and support services.
It is understood the strategy will also recommend more assertive interventions and services for "at risk" people, such as those who have a history of self-harm or psychosis.
The blueprint has been drawn up by the HSE, the National Suicide Review Group and the Department of Health, and will be launched by Minister for Health Mary Harney on Thursday.
There were 457 deaths from suicide in 2004, at least 100 more than were killed on the road. In addition, hospitals recorded some 10,000 cases of deliberate self-harm.
The overall suicide rate is relatively low by EU standards, but there is alarm at the rapid increase in youth suicide.
