Ógra Shinn Féin press Governments for action on Suicide Prevention

national | miscellaneous | press release

Wednesday June 07, 2006 14:41

by Éirigi - Ógra Shinn Féin

osf6county at yahoo dot com

Ógra Shinn Féin have pressed the Dublin and London governments in regards their approach to the issue of suicide prevention. Ógra Shinn Féin have demanded meetings with the ministers responsible for the portfolio of health in the 6 and 26 counties.

The youth group have received correspondence from the offices of, An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, An Tániste Mary Harney and British Direct rule minister Paul Goggins.

ÓSF Suicide Prevention Leaflet being distributed!

Spokesperson for Ógra Shinn Féin, Grace Vaughey explained, “We are looking to meet the ministers and put our points to the people who hold the purse strings. We propose that a number of aims be adopted by the ministers to tackle this issue on an island wide, common sense approach. We will be asking the ministers to:

1. Promote awareness about suicide.
2. Develop broad-based support for suicide prevention.
3. Develop and implement strategies to reduce the stigma associated with mental health and suicide prevention services.
4. Develop and implement community-based suicide prevention programs.
5. Implement training for recognition of at-risk behaviour and delivery of effective treatment.
6. Increase access to and community linkages with mental health services.
7. Promote and support research on suicide and suicide prevention.

Ms Vaughey concluded “In pursuit of our aims we have drawn up a motion calling for support of our campaign and aims, which will be introduced to councils throughout the island in the coming months and we also have an online petition at http://www.PetitionOnline.com/Beatha/petition.html.”