MacSharry continues suicide prevention bill

FIANNA FAIL Senator Marc MacSharry will move a Bill in the Seanad this week to fund a series of suicide prevention measures.

Senator MacSharry says the Bill, if enacted, could provide the necessary resources to reduce suicides by 30% in 10 years.

The Bill is broadly based on Senator MacSharry's policy document, “Actions Speak Louder Than Words”, which was published last year.

It provides for a Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Fund Levy on all alcohol sold but not for consumption at point of sale.

This would see all the money collected from the levy ring fenced for suicide prevention, mental health and addiction services.

If supported it has the potential to raise up to € 200m in a single year, said Sen MacSharry.

The party’s Seanad spokesperson on Health will move the Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Bill 2014 on Wednesday.

The Bill if enacted will provide sustainable funding for the implementation of a range of measures to reduce suicide in Ireland.

Senator MacSharry said: “Suicide remains the nation's silent crisis and despite the best efforts of the many organisations, volunteers & professionals working in the area of suicide prevention the statistics sadly underline the scale of this problem.

“The loss of life through suicide, on an annual basis, represents the equivalent of the loss of the population of an entire village.

“The promotion of mental well- being and suicide prevention policy initiatives have always been starved of the resources necessary to have a penetrative impact.” “This is a battle we can win.” Sen MacSharry said current initiatives fall well short of what was required.

“The mental health budget is first to be raided when health short falls are being addressed.

“A Vision For Change” was announced in 2006 and since then there has been some, but not nearly enough progress.

“A fresh approach must be taken to tackling what is in essence a national emergency.

“It is essential that we establish the correct structure with adequate resources to empower the professionals to begin to peel back the blindfold

on the phenomena of loss of life through suicide.”