Suicide awareness initiative unveiled

A campaign to reduce the stigma attached to suicide and raise awareness of mental health has been unveiled by Health Service Executive.

The all-Ireland initiative by the HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention aims to encourage people to seek social and professional support for mental health problems.

The campaign comes after a recent survey revealed that despite a good level of knowledge about mental health, 62 per cent of adults said they would not want other people to know if they had a mental health problem, while almost 40 per cent think that public needs better protection from those with mental health problems.

The survey found 52 per cent of respondents believed those with mental health problems should not be allowed to do important jobs such as become a doctor or nurse. A third admitted they would have difficulty talking to someone who had mental health problems.

However, 85 per cent of adults believe that anyone can experience a mental health problem, and 81 per cent said that people with mental health problems should have the same rights as everyone else.

The Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Dr Jimmy Devins, welcomed the all-island campaign, which was simultaneously launched by Minister Michael McGimpsey in Northern Ireland.

"The value of collaborating in the area of mental health cannot be underestimated," he said.