Independent Slieve Croob Councillor Patrick Clarke has raised his concerns regarding both the rise in suicides since the GFA and also a Stormont ministerial taskforce which was setup to tackle Northern Ireland’s growing suicide problems but has failed to meet since April 2015 he says. Councillor Clarke has now written to both the Minister for Health and the OFMDFM.
Councillor Patrick Clarke said: “I would be extremely concerned as to why the Ministerial taskforce namely the Co-ordination Group on Suicide Prevention which provides oversight, leadership and impetus for cross-departmental collaboration and co-ordination on suicide prevention and mental health promotion has not met since April 2015.”
“The Ministerial Co-ordination Group on Suicide Prevention was established a number of years ago in an effort to combat rising suicide rates across Northern Ireland with most executive Ministers also having a seat on the Ministerial Coordination Group on Suicide Prevention.
“Yet with suicide rates continuing to rise across various council areas of Northern Ireland I would be quite concerned to think that whilst the purpose of this ministerial group is to tackle mental health issues including suicide it is failing in its remit to the public of Northern Ireland.
“From a personal perspective, I am all too well aware of the deep devastation, tragedy and emotional pain that is left for both families and those left behind following a suicide particularly of a young person.
“In my own Council area of Newry Mourne and Down there are a number of voluntary and community groups set up by both those bereaved by suicide and also those wishing to make a difference by helping people and families affected by suicide and survivors of attempted suicide.
“Regrettably many of these groups are continually fundraising to provide important services such as counselling, adult and youth support groups, as well as organising various other public events throughout the year all of which are being funded by the deep generosity of the general public.”
“If Government departments such as the Department of Health and other government led taskforces and groups setup regarding addressing mental health issues such as suicide are not taking the whole issue of suicide seriously, then we are quite clearly and fundamentally failing in our moral public duty and responsibility to show political leadership surrounding the whole issue of mental health and suicide.”
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