Invest in suicide-prevention services to protect young people
The National Youth Council of Ireland is concerned about the lack of suicide prevention services for young people across the country. World Mental Health Day (October 10th) provides an opportunity for organisations to highlight the need for investment in suicide prevention services and a commitment from the Government to provide dedicated Suicide Prevention Officers to support and protect young people in Ireland.
Despite the fact that Ireland has the 7th highest rate of youth suicide in the EU the Government has failed to stand up to its commitments in the 2005 Reach Out strategy document which stated that €5.5m would be invested in suicide prevention as opposed to the €3.5m that has been invested.
“The Programme for Government includes a target of reducing the rate of suicide by 20%. For this target to be met it is imperative that the National Office of Suicide Prevention receives adequate funding and support to ensure the welfare of young people is protected. Currently there is a lack of dedicated Suicide Resources Officers (SROs) with only 8 in place out of a total of 11 in post. The presence of a SRO is vital to the local community as it offers support, information and training to both professionals and the public,” commented James Doorley, Assistant Director at the National Youth Council of Ireland.
“In 2008, 26 bids for funding were received from statutory and non-statutory organisations totalling €3.8m. This clearly demonstrates the need for greater resources to develop specific suicide prevention initiatives to protect and support young people,” Mr. Doorley concluded.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Clodagh O’Brien, Communications Officer at the NYCI on 087 781 4903 or 01 425 5955 or email communications@nyci.ie
Notes to Editors:
National Youth Council of Ireland
The National Youth Council of Ireland is a membership-led umbrella organisation that represents and supports the interests of 51 voluntary youth organisations and uses its collective experience to act on issues that impact on young people.
Ireland must invest in suicide prevention services to ensure young people are protected