A two-year suicide research programme which will address the "youth stigma" associated with seeking help will begin in July in the midwest and south of the State.
The programme, being run by the Mid-Western and Southern health boards, will target individuals displaying parasuicidal behaviour.
In the midwest, the programme will assess the accident and emergency department at Limerick Regional Hospital and the area's mental-health services.
The region has an average of 26 deaths from suicide a year, or 21.2 per 100,000. This compares with a rate of 15.5 per 100,000 in the Eastern Health Board region and 25.1 per 100,000 in the Southern Health Board region.
In 1999, there were 439 officially recorded suicides in the State.
"Although this figure reflects a downward trend when compared to previous years, it is too early to infer that the problem of suicide is decreasing in Ireland," states a report on the suicide prevention project by Mr Ger Crowley, health board assistant chief executive.
Project details were provided at yesterday's health board meeting. The report says the programme will include an outreach approach "to address the traditionally poor follow-up attendance rates at mental health services".
Individuals who attempt suicide will be offered a six-week problem-solving training programme which "is expected to significantly improve psychological and social functioning and reduce repetition rates".
Between 1995 and 1998, 708 individuals were treated for deliberate self-harm behaviour at accident and emergency departments in the midwest. Most of those were in the 15 to 24 age group and 23 per cent repeated the act within two years. "In terms of prevention-related activity, young males and older males pose the greatest challenge," Mr Crowley states.
The joint initiative with the Southern Health Board will be one of the first such large-scale studies undertaken in any country, the report adds.
The project is being funded by the Mid-Western Health Board and the National Suicide Review Group.
"It meets the recommendations of the main researchers in this field, and responds to the recommendations of the report of the National Task Force on Suicide relating to intervention and prevention," Mr Crowley states.
Recent service responses in the region include the provision of a crisis team at the regional hospital's emergency department for 12 hours a day. People who fail to keep appointments at day hospitals are followed up.
A survey identifying the attitudes to suicide of men aged 15 to 34 in the region is being completed.