Addressing Youth Suicide

national | miscellaneous | press release

Tuesday May 11, 2004 19:38

by YFG Member

Suicide, attempted suicide and the pressures on people in modern Irish society must become an issue in the forthcoming elections on June 11th according to Young Fine Gael President William Lavelle.

Young Fine Gael last night (Monday) held a seminar in Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford on the issue of youth suicide. The meeting was be addressed by Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny TD as part of his tour of the country ahead of the Local and European Elections on June 11th.

President of Young Fine Gael, Wlliam Lavelle says: ”The Government is ignoring an epidemic, which is causing death and anguish to families and communities throughout the State. Each year, more than 450 people take their own lives and in excess of 10,000 people report to Accident and Emergency having self-harmed. Yet, apart from lip service, the problem is ignored.

"A strategy on tackling suicide has been in place since January 1998 when the Report of the National Task Force on Suicide was published with 86 recommendations on ways of preventing suicide. Yet 6 years afterwards, we have seen no action from the Government on the majority of these recommendations.

“Young Fine Gael is calling on the government to release funds to ensure all secondary students in the country have access to counseling services. We also call on them to recognise the epidemic of youth suicides and attempted suicides and to take measures to introduce properly funded Suicide Prevention policies immediately

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Comments (5 of 5)

hrm

by random input

Tue May 11, 2004 21:08

having enda kenny as taoiseach would make any right thinking young man (or woman) want to top themselves. at least ahern has some vestige of charisma.

how do fine gael plan to end social deprevation, stigmatisation of mental illness and the lurch towards 'individualism', which in itself breeds alienation?

put more cops on the streets?

bit more then that needed

by pc

Wed May 12, 2004 02:13

saying something needs to be done, and criticising the gov for not doing it, and.... more details please

Not a black and white issue

by Badman - Fine Gael Intifada

Wed May 12, 2004 02:29

In certain cases youth suicide can be a good thing - like when the youth have joined Fine Gael. A young person joining a moribund party shows a serious prediliction for suicide and it is probably better to end it swiftly before they have a chance to build up relationships that depend upon them.

You lot really should just stick to your model UN debates. You'd have more chance of getting power there for a start.

Good article YFG Member - Shift your policies to the Left

by Anonymous

Wed May 12, 2004 15:24

Good article "YFG Member". Ignore the abuse.

I urge you and your party to shift your politics to the left. Focus your policies on the most marginalized of our society both nationally and internationally.

So much more resources and changes in strategy are needed for the area of suicide. The Samaritans do an incredible job and yet is run and funded on a totally voluntary basis.

Putting more money into Suicide “may” adversely affect the country's "growth" rate, but one suicide is one too many

an earlier indymedia feature on suicide

by dunk

Sat May 15, 2004 23:33

::Suicide - Swept under the Carpet::
Sep 12 2003,

definately needs to be explored and talked about more,
i wonder is the figure rising or has there always been roughly the amount there is today
perhaps no one really knows how many were taking their lives a few decades ago

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Addressing Youth Suicide

Comments (5 of 5)