Madam, - Yesterday was World Suicide Prevention Day - and if ever an issue needed an awareness day it is suicide.
Every year an average of 450 young people in this State take their lives and over 10,000 arrive at Accident and Emergency departments having attempted to do so. Yet suicide receives very little attention in the media or from the Government.
Why are so many young people in such crisis that they decide to end their lives? Young people are maturing in a world with fewer certainties than ever before and are faced with issues that previous generations simply did not have to consider.
The early part of the 21st century is replete with images of distrust - clerical abuse, corrupt politicians, dishonest business people, dangerous doctors and untrustworthy gardaí. The destruction of public trust leaves society's younger members without direction and, in many cases, faced with decisions for a future that seems meaningless.
It is no wonder that young people are confused but it is a tragedy that their desperation now frequently results in self-harm, often tragically in death by suicide. If we were left in doubt about the impact of such uncertainty and distrust on our young people, the suicide figures for Ireland over the past 10 years indicates that something maladaptive and unhealthy is taking place.
Yet this Government has failed to put sufficient support services in place. How long can Fianna Fáil and the PDs continue to ignore the suicide epidemic? And how many more young people will take their own lives in the meantime? Clearly the psychological shift with which young people in modern times have to cope requires a psychological response. Devoting more resources to support services is key to safeguarding the mental health of our young people.
I have pointed this out time and time again to no avail. I am now imploring the Minister for Health to recognise the epidemic of suicide and attempted suicide and to take measures to introduce properly funded suicide prevention policies immediately, - Yours, etc.,
DAN NEVILLE, TD, President, Irish Association of Suicidology, and Fine Gael Deputy Health Spokesperson, Dáil Éireann, Dublin 2.