Funds for suicide prevention set to be cut by 12.5%

FINANCIAL SUPPORT for organisations working to prevent suicide is set to be cut by 12.5 per cent this year, the Action on Suicide Alliance has said.

The Health Service Executive’s National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) was cutting funding to mental health support groups, despite a recent increase in calls to organisations such as Aware and Console, the alliance said.

“The NOSP couldn’t have picked a worse time to cut funding to mental health groups. The dismal economic climate is having a massive effect on people who are turning to support groups for help now more than ever. Lives could be lost as a result,” alliance chairman Paul Kelly said.

The rate of calls to groups affiliated to the alliance had seen a particularly sharp increase in the last month.

“Cutting funding at this point only serves to make our task much more formidable,” Mr Kelly said.

Console and Teen-Line Ireland have reported an increase of 25 per cent in the number of phone calls received from people in need of support since the beginning of last December.

“As it stands, we can barely cope with demand and if the HSE’s decision to reduce funding to support groups is implemented then clearly many people will be negatively affected as a result. Those who do suffer are also the ones who are most likely to be in need of help and support,” Eddie Mahony of Teen-Line said.

However, the HSE said all of the relevant organisations have indicated they would be maintaining existing levels of service, despite the 12.5 per cent budget cut. They would be receiving additional non-financial support from the HSE to assist them.

“While this measure is regrettably necessary the National Office for Suicide Prevention is formulating a programme to help those in daily contact with people who are feeling the effects of the economic situation,” a HSE spokesman said.

The cut was necessary to cope with the HSE’s overall funding shortfall, the spokesman said, although he did not have a figure of how much would be saved through its implementation.

“The HSE will be working with Mabs , Fás and the HSE’s Community Welfare Officers to train personnel in suicide awareness.”