Suicide group criticises HSA

THE REFUSAL of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) to become involved in the provision of "suicide first aid" in the workplace has been criticised by campaigners who have called for "a more enlightened approach".

The HSA has told the lobby group, Suicide Teach Organise Prevent (Stop), which was set up in the wake of a series of suicides in Co Leitrim, that its focus is on "occupational illnesses" or illnesses which arise from work.

But John and Mary McTernan from Dromahair who, with other bereaved families, set up Stop after their son Garry (24) took his life, have said the response smacks of "the same old attitude to suicide".

In a letter to Stop, the authority described manual handling and first aid as examples of the type of training which employers must provide. It added that these requirements were grounded in legislation.

The HSA said suicide in Ireland was "predominantly associated with young males and not with an occupational grouping", adding that it was primarily "a public health rather than an occupational health issue".

Stop had asked the HSA to facilitate the provision of the two-day Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (Asist) courses in workplaces on the basis that thousands of workers could learn how to identify and help colleagues at risk.

The Asist programme which was founded in Canada in 1983 is described by the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) here as "suicide first aid". The HSE provides Asist training courses throughout the State and, according to the NOSP, more than 3,000 people have completed the course in the Republic.

"Surely this is first aid at its best," said Mrs McTernan who revealed that she is frequently contacted by employers who are unsure how to deal with vulnerable workers who may be suicidal. "We estimate that 500 people are dying through suicide every year when you include the undetermined deaths, and how many of us would know what to do if a colleague confided that they were thinking of ending it all?"

Mrs McTernan also pointed out that there were an estimated 100 bullying-related suicides in the workplace last year. "We can't keep pushing this issue under the carpet. The HSA is really saying 'it's not our baby, it's not our responsibility, we cannot stop them' but we need a more enlightened approach."

John McTernan said he agreed that it was mostly young men who were taking their own lives and this was exactly why the HSA could provide invaluable help in reaching this group.

A HSA spokesman said that because suicide was primarily a public health rather than an occupational health issue it was not possible for it to assist Stop with the Asist training. "The best contribution we can make while remaining within our remit is to encourage employers to address work-related mental health issues," he added.