MLAs Call For Executive To Act On Suicide

MLAs across the political spectrum have rallied together to call on the Executive to do more towards suicide prevention in Northern Ireland.

Sinn Féin's Sue Ramsey said suicide prevention has to be a priority.

The West Belfast MLA and Chair of the Health Committee spoke after putting forward a motion to the Assembly from the Health Committee.

"The fact that suicide is one of the biggest killers in our community is clear with around 300 people taking their own lives each year, making it something that we urgently need to address," she said.

"The overall suicide rate here has more than doubled in the past 30 years and we need a joined up approach and commitment across all government departments to tackle suicide."

Ulster Unionist Party Health Spokesperson Roy Beggs MLA gave his support to the motion.

"With recorded suicide rates in NI more than doubling in the past 30 years, increasing from 7.7 in 1980 to 17.4 per 100,000 in 2010, it is clear that in the modern society, we face a huge challenge to bring about a reduction in the apparently ever increasing number of suicides," he said.

"There has been a significant increase in the numbers of suicides occurring since 2003. I notice according to Mike Tomlinson, that this is against a back drop of lower and generally slowly declining levels in England, Scotland and even the most deprived English region, the North East.

"I welcome the call in the motion to the Executive to do more. Whilst the DHSSPS has a lead role, many other Departments can also help address the issue including Education, Justice, Agriculture, Culture Arts & Leisure and the OFMDFM."

SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey said: "From 150 deaths in 1998 rising consistently to 313 in 2010, in our communities, throughout the front line health service, in the media – we are aware more and more of the impact suicide has in terms of a family, a street, an area.

"Prevention, in my opinion, is the key to stemming the tide of suicide in our society. When we heard that between 2005 and 2009, that almost a third of deaths of those between 15 and 34 were attributed to suicide, we begin to scratch the surface of an issue that is still, unfortunately a taboo subject in many communities.

"I do think we should commend the Department of Health and the PHA in particular for it’s work on the creation of the Protect Life Strategy. The revised action plan from the summer of last year focusses on a local dimension to addressing suicide through education, counselling and support services and a number of organisations in my constituency as I referred to when we debated the strategy, are simply world-class in the delivery of those services.  Aware Defeat Depression, HURT, Foyle Search and Rescue and many others too numerous to mention.

"The Public Health Agency cannot do all that we need it to do alone.  Especially in rural areas, we need to be mindful that often, only piecemeal services are in place, and key support services are available only in urban areas – this is something we must address and the Executive should prioritise."

(IT/CD)