Suicide 'Csar' Recommended

Amid calls for the appointment of a suicide 'czar' for Northern Ireland, it has emerged that five people have taken their lives within a six-mile radius of Dungannon, County Tyrone over the last month alone.

This news has underlined the work by the Inquiry into Suicide and Self-Harm undertaken by the NI Assembly Health Committee, which initiated the investigation into self harm after a spate of suicides in the County Armagh village of Laurelvale last year.

Faced with such tragedies and news that an average of 195 people take their own lives in NI each year - while 4,500 are hospitalised after attempting suicide or deliberately injuring themselves - the establishment of a suicide prevention 'director' post has been recommended.

As well as appointing such a director to ensure the Government's 'Protecting Life' strategy is prioritised across statutory organisations, the committee made several other recommendations to Health Minister Michael McGimpsey.

The committee said closer co-operation within and across a range of government departments would help to prevent suicide and self-harm.

A more robust approach to the prevention of suicide and self-harm is needed if the problem is to be tackled effectively.

The investigation, which was set up to examine a sharp rise in suicide and self-harm rates, concluded that existing structures should be strengthened by the establishment of a designated suicide prevention directorate.

Chairperson of the committee, MLA Iris Robinson said: "Based on the evidence given to the committee, we believe that closer co-operation within and across a range of government departments will enable Protect Life to achieve its goals of preventing suicide and self-harm.

"In addition, we believe that involving churches, local authorities, and sports groups in the delivery of the strategy, as well as ring-fencing project funds for the next three years, will all aid its success."

(BMcC)