A charity has claimed that suicide numbers could be reduced in this country if support services were consolidated into one agency.
The group, Turning the Tide of Suicide, says similar measures introduced elsewhere have resulted in a reduction in the number of deaths by suicide by 25%.
CSO figures show that the number of deaths by suicide in Ireland rose by 25% last year.
The charity’s founder, Noel Smyth, says suicide needs to be prioritised by consolidating the support services into one authority.
The ‘Suicide Authority’ would train people in local communities to assist those who may feel the need to speak about any worries. There would also be an auditing section, dealing with social worker services, while the authority itself would oversee the prioritisation suicide in this country.
The launch of the proposals for the Suicide Authority will take place on World Mental Health Day on 10 October.
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