GPs should get training to to identify if patients have forms of depression which may lead to suicide, Senator Mary White urged today.
Ms White also called for increased taxes on alcoholic drinks favoured by young people and for over-the-counter medications to be reduced in size.
A total of 2,800 people in Ireland died from suicide from 2003 to 2006, according to Ms White.
The Dundalk-born businesswoman, who wants to run for the Irish presidency in 2011, is due to launch a research document, What We Can Do About Suicide in The New Irelandtomorrow.
Ms White said she wrote the paper in response to calls from politicians, parents and community groups to take a fresh look at suicide prevention.
“Reducing alcohol consumption, training GPs in identifying depression and restricting access to lethal means are key factors in tackling suicide in our country,” said Ms White.
She claimed that the real levels of suicide may be higher than the official statistics as many possible suicides are misclassified as undetermined deaths.
She added: “Another harrowing statistic is that 4.5 per cent of road accident fatalities in Ireland between 1978 and 1992 were likely suicides.
“Small measures such as reducing pack sizes of over the counter medications will help in the path to preventing suicide," she said. “I will also be urging the Government to increase excise duties on those alcoholic drinks most favoured by young people, as a way of reducing alcohol consumption."