Health professionals and voluntary groups need to work together to share knowledge and expertise in helping to prevent rising suicide rates, President Mary McAleese said yesterday.
Speaking at a special forum on suicide, the President said she hoped the pooling of these groups' knowledge would help to address the "taboos and terror" surrounding people who take their own lives.
"We know that none of us has all the answers, indeed, probably none of us knows all the questions, but each person here has a perspective, an experience, an insight, a skill which is part of the jigsaw puzzle we need to put together to find the right answers to the right questions," Mrs McAleese said.
Last year 444 people died by suicide - over 100 more than died as a result of road deaths.
While overall suicide rates in Ireland are relatively low (17th out of the EU's 25 member states), the country has the fastest growing rate of suicide among young people (5th highest in the EU among 15 to 24-year-olds).
Psychiatrists, doctors, community leaders and people bereaved by suicide yesterday discussed plans at Áras an Úachtaráin aimed at improving the work in the area of suicide prevention.
The rapporteur of the meeting, Dr Tony Bates, a clinical psychologist, said one of the key issues raised was the need for a national co-ordinating body which could provide leadership and support for professionals and community groups working in the area.
Mrs McAleese also said reaching out to younger people in adolescence who were struggling to cope with life's difficulties. "For the young person walking around Ireland somewhere with a great big bit of concrete in his stomach who can't face tomorrow, maybe just maybe all he needs to know is that all this is a bad patch," she said.
"We need to be able to reach him to take that cement block and say it's easier carried with company."
She also underlined the dangers facing older men who often did not have the social networks and activities available to women.