THE GOVERNMENT is committed to achieving a 10 per cent reduction in the number of deaths by suicide over the next two years, the Minister of State for Mental Health said yesterday.
Dr Jimmy Devins was speaking at the launch of the Console organisation's Snowdrop campaign, which is aiming to create awareness of suicide services and to raise funds to help those bereaved.
At the launch, both Console and Dr Devins extended their sympathy to a Co Clare family mourning the loss of two children to suicide in recent months.
Dr Devins said he was under no illusions as to the enormity of the task his department would face in achieving the goal, with just over 400 people having died by suicide in Ireland last year, which was significantly more than the number killed on Irish roads.
"It is a huge challenge and unfortunately the graph at the moment is going upwards, but that is the challenge we have set ourselves and we hope that community groups, families and friends can all help in tackling this problem," he said.
Dr Devins said it was important that State and support groups worked to remove the stigma attached to mental health problems.
"We must try to break down that barrier and get across the message that if people have issues or are feeling depressed or indeed suicidal they should talk about it, because there is absolutely no doubt that a problem shared is a problem halved," he said.
Console offers counselling services for those bereaved by suicide, while one of the objectives of the Snowdrop campaign is to raise funds to maintain its support services and to expand across the country. Snowdrop pins costing €3 will be available in shops and pharmacies across the country until the end of April.
Console chief executive Seán McCarthy said it was important to raise awareness about the suicide-bereaved in communities and to offer hope for the future.
"It is important we send out a message to the people that are bereaved that there is hope and that they can get their lives back on track, although they have experienced terrible tragedy."
Mr McCarthy said people needed to understand that the work undertaken with the bereaved could help prevent deaths in the future. "We shall continue to support local communities who approach us seeking help in their efforts to assuage the effects of suicide on their communities."
The public can make a donation to Console's Snowdrop campaign by texting SNOW to 57030, at a cost of €2.50 a call. People affected by suicide can contact Console at 1800 201890.