Ministers Reply to Jan O’Sullivan

RSAG Response
Deputy Jan O’Sullivan called on the Minister to have the National Task Force on Suicide Implemented. The following are the main points of the minister’s reply and response from Rosbrien Suicide Awareness Group (RSAG)

  Minister
“Considerable progress to date in the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Report is reflected in the reduction of suicides over the past two years” 

RSAG
This is an assumption rather than a fact, the expert’s say that the slight drop cannot yet be seen as a trend.

Minister
He has published “The Quality and Fairness A Health System for You”
Which includes a commitment to intensify the existing preventive programs over the coming years.

RSAG
WE can not see much evidence of existing preventive programs in place in the Mid-Western Health Board area.

Minister
4.9M Euro have been provided towards research and suicide prevention since the publication of the NTF.

RSAG
Where was this money spent?

Minister
Additional funding is available to further develop Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and old age Psychiatry, to provide necessary support and treatment to individuals at risk.

RSAG
Why is the Health Board not availing of this funding? We are aware that the H.B. is short of professionals in this field and we have been told this is because of financial constraints.

Minister
The National Suicide Prevention Strategy is now in place.
The National Suicide Review Group, whose main job is to Review ongoing trends in Suicide and Para suicide.

RSAG
Who is responsible for Implementing Strategy?
How often does the Review Group meet and who are they.
We need a national body to coordinate the many voluntary groups working in the area suicide awareness, prevention and research. This could also include the statuary bodies involved in this area.

Minister
The Health (miscellaneous provisions) Act 2000 provides that the Minister will make a report to both houses on the measures taken by the Health Boards to address the problem of Suicide.

RSAG
Ministers report will be based on what the HB tells him. He should also consider the views of interested voluntary groups like the Rosbrien Suicide Awareness Group.

Minister
Health Boards have established working groups to examine the implementation of the Recommendations of the National Task Force. These groups are Multi-sectional and multi-disciplinary.

RSAG
WE would look for representation on this group if the group were still in place. 

Our overall comment on the ministers reply is that there were Review groups set up both nationally and at health board level and we have many reports going back to the minister. There is also substantial money being invested to provide services for people at risk of suicide.

But we the families of people who have died by suicide and families with young people at risk of suicide see little evidence of these review groups or reports been reflected in proper and adequate services and support at Health Board level, to deal with the tragedy of suicide in the Mid-West.