Appalling rise in suicides proves inadequacy of mental health provision

5.38.47pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 28th Mar 2006

North Down Alliance representatives Eileen Bell MLA and Cllr Ian James Parsley have called for urgent action to address spiralling suicide rates, after a report indicated they had risen by 50% in 2005.

Responding to newly released NISRA statistics on causes of death in Northern Ireland, Mrs Bell stated: "Suicide-related deaths rose in 2005 from 146 to 213 - while advice and counselling services for people vulnerable to suicide came under threat.

"This is an appalling indictment of the whole political system here - people would rather moan about symbols on St Patrick's Day than tackle the collapse in confidence of vulnerable people across Northern Ireland as evidenced by these appalling statistics."

Cllr Parsley, who chairs the party's youth wing, stated: "We can find millions of pounds to fund languages nobody speaks and leisure facilities nobody uses - but not a few tens of thousand required to keep essential mental health and counselling services open to young people. Our political leaders continue to engage in stunts and mopery at the expense of young people's lives.

"Suicide must now be seen as the number one cause of death for young males in Northern Ireland. This is an appalling reality, and one our political leaders show shockingly little appetite to fix.

"Our political system has failed young people and their families utterly. Those in elected office who continue to place barrier after barrier to block genuine progress and genuine delivery of essential services should be ashamed.

"For how long are we going to let the minutiae of tribal stand-off and constitutional irrelevance get in the way of ensuring young and vulnerable people form an integral and appreciated part of our society?"

ENDS