Recommendations made in the report from the National Task Force on Suicide, which was published nearly four years ago, need to be implemented more quickly, according to the CEO of the Mental Health Association of Ireland.
Mr Brian Howard, who chaired the task force, said a reasonable start had been made, but said he would prefer the pace of implementation to be accelerated.
The report recommended that suicide be discussed more openly and this had happened. But in relation to recommendations that cost money to implement, work had still to be done.
Health boards needed to provide bereavement counselling for families affected by suicide, and while this was happening to varying degrees, some health boards still relied too heavily on voluntary organisations.
"Some health boards need to be more organised and structured in their approach. It cannot be left to voluntary groups: the onus must be brought to bear on statutory services," Mr Howard said.
It was also recommended that after a person had attempted suicide and presented at an accident and emergency department, someone should be appointed to visit that individual and monitor their progress. He said this was happening "on a small scale" but should be implemented fully. He said important recommendations had been implemented, such as the setting up of a review group to monitor progress, and the appointment in each health board of suicide resource officers.
Progress had also been made in targeting programmes at young people, the most vulnerable group. The Mental Health Association devised a programme earlier this year aimed at second-level pupils and a lot of schools had availed of this, he said.
Mr Howard will be among a number of speakers at a seminar on suicide to be held in Sligo next Tuesday.
The number of suicides in the Republic peaked in 1998 with a total of 504. Of these, 138 were aged between 15 to 24. In 1999 the total was 439 and last year this dropped again to 413. Males generally outnumber females by more than four to one. The rate of suicide among young men in Ireland is now one of the highest in the world.
The seminar will take place in the Sligo Park Hotel on Tuesday at 7.30pm.
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