Union of corporate, private and public focus on suicide will help save lives in Ireland

The Action on Suicide Alliance has called for a co-ordinated approach to Suicide Prevention which would see the potential union of private corporations joining together with current public Suicide Prevention groups and Government to address the issue of Suicide in Ireland.

Increases in calls to Suicide Prevention support groups, many of which are related to the current economic climate in Ireland have been widely reported in media during the course of the last year and the Action on Suicide Alliance believe that a concerted effort on the part of all elements of Irish society is the only practical method of dealing with the issue effectively.

According to Noel Smyth, Chairman of 3TS, the unified approach will require the full support of Ireland’s Corporate community working together with the Government and members of the Public to save lives lost through suicide each year in Ireland.

“Ireland has an abundance of public and private resources which need to be harnessed to tackle the issue of suicide and self harm. By harnessing the full support of Ireland’s Business Community, Government and the general Public, it is within our power to save lives by providing crucial services such as training and research at national and local community level.

Everyone in Ireland needs to have a clear understanding of the suicide prevention services that we currently have and how we as a collaborative force might work towards making these services better. The fresh approach that we are calling for will help save lives and will put the existing resources to full use, saving further monies for central Government.

I urge members of the Business community and prospective candidates for our new Government to contact the Action on Suicide Alliance and to pledge their support. We need YOU to create change and help to save a life”.

The Action on Suicide Alliance represents a grouping of Organisations working in the area of suicide prevention and reflects the concerns of hundreds of organisations and thousands of individuals nationwide. Anyone wishing to commit their support should contact Noel Smyth, Chairman, The 3Ts, Tel 01 6615525.

Members of the General Public are encouraged to join the Campaign on Action on Suicide Alliance Facebook page.

The Action on Suicide Alliance includes but is not limited to the following members - 1Life Suicide Helpline, 3Ts (Turn the Tide of Suicide), Bodywhys, Console, GROW, Living Life Counselling, Living Links, SHINE, SOS (Suicide or Survive)

--ENDS--

For further press information/ interview opportunities please contact: Breffni Burke, Prior Communications 086 856 3739

The mission of the Action on Suicide Alliance is to reduce the incidence of suicide and self-harm in Ireland by advocating for Government provision of suicide prevention measures and mental health services. To this end, in solidarity with individuals and families bereaved through suicide and people who have attempted suicide, the Alliance will raise public and political awareness of the ongoing suicide crisis and Government under-investment in suicide prevention measures and mental health services. The Alliance does not support or oppose any government, political party, or political or religious ideology.

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 2009-03-05 

The Action on Suicide Alliance has learned that the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) is to cut funding to mental health support groups by up to 12.5%.

This year financial support to many different suicide prevention & support groups is set to be reduced, meaning that there will be an inevitable knock-on effect on the quality of service that they will be able to provide.  

Increases in calls to support groups such as Aware and Console (amongst others) have been widely reported in the media in the last number of weeks. The Action on Suicide Alliance believes that the current economic climate is having a massive impact on the increasing number of people who find themselves in need of support.

Commenting on the NOSP’s funding cuts, Action on Suicide Alliance Chairman, Paul Kelly said:

“The NOSP couldn’t have picked a worse time to cut funding to mental health groups. The dismal economic climate is having a massive effect on people who are turning to support groups for help now more than ever.  Lives could be lost as a result.  

In the last month alone the rate of calls to our various member groups’ services has increased considerably. This alone is a clear indication that something urgently needs to be done to reverse this situation. Cutting funding at this point only serves to make our task much more formidable.”   

Set up in February 2007 The Action on Suicide Alliance aims to reduce the incidence of suicide and self-harm in Ireland by advocating for Government provision of suicide prevention measures and mental health services.

Indeed, mental health and support groups across the board are reporting significant increases in demand for their services in recent times. Console and Teen-Line Ireland claim that the level of phone calls received from people in need of support has risen by at least 25% since the beginning of December 2008. Reacting to the NOSP’s cuts, Eddie Mahony of Teen-Line said:

“As it stands, we can barely cope with demand and if the HSE’s decision to reduce funding to support groups is implemented then clearly many people will be negatively affected as a result. Those who do suffer are also the ones who are most likely to be in need of help and support.”

Action on Suicide Alliance held its first Remembrance Procession in April 2008.  Around 300 people comprising bereaved families and friends of those who have lost their lives through Suicide took to the streets of Dublin in a dignified silent Procession led by a lone piper.