Opinion

Suicide prevention must be made a health priority

It is widely accepted that suicide is one of the most pressing public health issues facing the Stormont executive and society as a whole.

The awful litany of death over the Christmas and New Year period, with at least five suicides reported in north Belfast alone, has caused understandable distress and sadness but also frustration as we know that much more can be done to prevent people taking their own lives.

There is certainly a growing sense that the current approach to this major problem is not working, something that is borne out by the shocking rate of suicide in Northern Ireland.

Between 2000 and 2017, 4,476 deaths were registered as suicide, but while the rates are falling in Britain and the Republic, in the north they have been rising.

We know there are risk factors such as deprivation, mental health issues and drug use but that may not tell the whole story.

We also regularly hear families describe how difficult it is to access counselling and other services, particularly in times of crisis.

So what is to be done?

The fact that we now have a functioning executive and a health minister in post is a step in the right direction.

A group of people from sport, entertainment, media, the mental health sector, education and the community sector have signed an open letter to Robin Swann, calling on him to 'declare a public health emergency'.

The letter, published as an advertisement in The Irish News and Belfast Telegraph, was the idea of boxer Michael Conlan who said the recent deaths had affected him and he felt he had to use his 'public platform' for some good.

This is indeed a worthy initiative and will chime with the thoughts of many people who have been touched by suicide and may feel a sense of helplessness and even anger about an issue that can be fairly described as an epidemic in this society.

The letter calls on the minister to double the funding available for counselling and ensure that no one waits longer than 28 days for an appointment.

Mr Swann will, of course, face many calls on his time and available resources.

But there is a strong sense that people want suicide prevention to be made a priority by the health minister and early action will be expected.