Suicide Prevention Funding Boosted By €1M

The Government has announced a funding boost of almost €1million for a range of suicide prevention measures under the dormant accounts funding.

Making the announcement this morning, Minister for Mental Health John Moloney said the money was in addition to a €4.5 million fund already provided this year.

Mr Moloney said the funding announced today would allow communities to develop suicide prevention initiatives and providing places where people can access support and information such as youth cafes; networks of carers and supporters in the community.

“This is a sign of the Government’s firm commitment to reducing the number of deaths by suicide," the minister said. He added: "The increase in suicide rates is a matter of concern for me and for the Government and we must, I believe, redouble our efforts to reduce the incidence of suicide and make every effort to reach out to people in despair."

Mr Maloney said the programme would help communities develop integrated local action plans for suicide prevention.

"The tragedy of suicide affects every community in the country. The Government is firmly committed to reducing suicide, as part of a whole community effort to ensure that people in distress do not feel isolated and alone," The Minister said.

The news comes only a week after a man died in an apparent suicide during a gig by Irish folk band The Swell Season.

The band were playing a show at the Californian Mountain Vinery in the US city last week when an audience member climbed the venue roof before jumping to his death.

Witnesses said the man jumped three stories through some lighting rigging, landing near band member Glen Hansard.

The man has not been publicly identified but police are treating the death as suicide. A doctor attending the gig pronounced him dead.

Writing on their official MySpace page, Myspace.com/theswellseason, the band wrote: "The band, crew and all involved with them are shocked and saddened by the unfortunate events of last night. Our hearts go out to the victim who decided to take his own life at last night's gig and to his friends and family."

(DW/KMcA)