Dear Jan ,

Please find enclosed Rosbrien Suicide Awareness Group’s policy statement on  ‘The National Task Force Recommendations’.

As you can see there is a lot of anger and disappointment within our group at the lack  of progress in implementing these recommendations. Many individuals and groups, we have encountered over the last year have also expressed the same dissatisfaction with the Mental Health Services. 

We know that you have already received complaints with other areas of the Health Services and thus we ask you that our complaints would not be encompassed within  this overall general dissatisfaction. 

In the case of  Suicide Prevention and Counseling, the ‘Task Force Recommendations’ have been in place for over three years now with very little  progress being made on their implementation. As we wait for the Health Boards to act   people are dying by suicide at an alarming rate ( averaging at least eight deaths per week, where Limerick has the highest rate nationwide ). 

We believe that the recommendations of the ‘Task Force’ cover all the areas of suicide concern for the families within our group and also other individuals and  groups we have encountered.
We are also of the opinion that there should be a National Body set up to co-ordinate the implementation of the ‘Task  Force  Recommendations’ with the efforts of some  very good voluntary groups working in the area of Suicide Prevention and counseling.

We would request that you, along with the other T.D’s in our constituency make very  effort, both at local and national level, to have the recommendations of the ‘Task Force’ implemented in full. 

If we as a group can be of any assistance when doing this, please do not hesitate in calling on us.