Suicide Debate in the Dail 3rd May (Statements on Suicide Prevention)

The session in the Dail today regarding Suicide Prevention was a very fitting debate.  Witnessing cross party support in the current Dail is rare but on  this issue they all are accepting of each others proposals to find a solution to the problem.  This is very welcoming as it is not an easy issue to deal with and has been hidden at times and needs to be tackled and highlighted.  All deputies spoke well and there was very good proposals and ideas put forward.  Deputy Sandra McLellan is right that an Treaty on Mental Health, signed by Ireland is the “nations best kept secret” due to the fact many children are forced to share facilities with adult patients.

Deputy Simon Harris and others stated that we need to change the attitude in our schools as a priority.  He stated that one woman asked him that if he had a toothache where would he go for help? A Dentist, Would be ashamed of it? No.  We need to change our attitudes as a society.  We need a similar attitude and teaching for Mental Health.  If I become ill I go to the Doctor.  If I begin to show signs of depression  then I go to my local Physiatrist, and should not have to be ashamed of the fact.  I should not have to hide it.

Deputy Jerry Buttimer stated that the debate he was taking part in was the one of the most important debates in the Dail as it deals with the Human effect on everyone so significantly.  In these rough economic times where families are under pressure with employment and putting food on the table it is a time for us to all of us work together.

Youth Suicide in Ireland is the fourth highest in Europe.  We have seen a large increase in young men committing suicide in the past few years.  I am all too aware of this as I know of two young men who have taken their own lives.  Both deaths were a shock and brings the necessity to deal with Sucide all to clear.

It must be ensured that continuing resources are made available for Community mental health services.  Too much resources are involved with hospital based treatment which is against international best practice.  Also voluntary organisations such as Samaritans need continueing support to ensure every person wishing to avail of such services is given the full help they need.

Continuing and improved resources also need to be made available for LGBT students in schools.  This also involves the educating of studnets of LGBT issues and acceptance of people who are gay, laesbian, bisexual or transgender.  Without this bullying can persist and become dangerous to the mental health of the LGBT student.  Many schools as was highlighted today do not have a code of practice to deal with LGBT bullying, this needs to change, and urgently.  Cooperation between the Ministries of Health and Education is essential to ensure proper guidelines and advice are available to schools forming their own policies on this. 

Services for Mental Health must be made as accessible as possible, signs are not always apparent, we need to ensure people can spot the signs themselves and can see tell tale signs in others and to have the knowhow to approach them.  This involves as Jerry Buttimer pointed out joined up thinking between the voluntary and statutory organisations.  A dedicated help line should be established that will always be manned and available to both individuals and to the Gardai.  The Gardai should also be able to access professional support out or normal hours when they are so often are forced to find their own solutions when faced with a person with Mental Health issue.  An inter agency support network and telephone line is the answer to this.

Deputy Patrick O’Donovan stressed the internet as while having its great benefits can be a tool for great wrong and harm.  He pointed out Social Networking sites such as Facebook and twitter where young people are exposed and can be open to abuse.  There needs to be more proactive involvement in the monitoring of these sites and I believe that the companies such as Facebook and Twitter need to be required to put their own resources back into the site to ensure its safe to use for all.

This is another area that schools could address.  A code of practice for teaching about the use of the internet needs to be established.  Safe use of the internet and social sites needs to be thaught to our children who are now setting up online profiles at ages of 8 or 9 now.  Some are even setting up profiles on Adult dating websites at ages of 13.  Parents need to be educated about the dangers the internet can pose to their children.  An education programme after hours in schools for parents should be established.  This would be funded by the Department of Children and Education jointly.

With all the talk it is now up to the government and the Minister for Health (working with the various bodies, state and voluntary) to establish real policy and to implement real change.  I have every confidence he will, I hope though that the cross party support remains and amendments to any policy are constructive and not based on party political scoring.

Further Reading:
http://www.partnershipforchildren.org.uk/about-us/news/archive/news---december-2006.html