Remarks by President McAleese at the Intl Association of Suicide Prevention XXIV Biennial Conference
Remarks by President McAleese at the International Association of Suicide Prevention XXIV Biennial Conference 31 August 2007
Dia dhíbh go léir a chairde. Is mór an onóir agus pléisiúir dom bheith anseo libh inniu agus ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl díbh as an chaoin-chuireadh agus as fáilte fíorchaoin.
Thank you all for the very warm welcome. I would especially like to thank Dr. John Connolly, a founder member of the Irish Association of Suicidology, of which I am Patron, for the invitation to speak at this, the twenty-fourth biennial conference of the International Association of Suicide Prevention.
I am particularly delighted to welcome the many delegates who have travelled from all over the world to explore all aspects of suicide including the latest research programmes relating to self-harm, suicide prevention and mental health. The panels look both fascinating and relevant, and I hope that you have found them useful. Already it has generated considerable media interest and public debate and helped inform new understanding, fresh consciousness and to focus renewed commitment.
The issues surrounding suicide in all their painful, heartbreaking reality have lately become horribly familiar in Ireland. In particular, the plight of young men, who comprise forty per cent of all suicides here, is striking. For this segment of society, suicide is now the biggest killer. After them, elderly men living alone comprise the second-highest at-risk group. The theme of this conference - Suicide Prevention across the Lifespan - could not, therefore, be more apposite to modern Ireland.
If these statistics paint a stark overall picture then you, more than most, understand that, hidden behind the figures, lies a uniquely personal, often untold story of loss, depression, social dislocation, breakdown in relationship, substance abuse, distress or some combination of these experiences. We have been reminded of this fact all too often recently with stories of teenage suicides, filicide suicides, familicides as well as internet-prompted suicides which have brought a new and worrying dimension to your work.
Behind the headlines, however, there are encouraging signs of progress in Ireland. The publication of two important strategy documents, Reach Out, a National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention for Ireland in 2005, and Protect Life, a strategy for Northern Ireland in 2006, were key achievements. Both strategies set out milestones ranging from general approaches intended to improve awareness and education to specific plans for specially-targeted at-risk groups. The establishment in 2005 of the National Office for Suicide Prevention in Ireland gives us a key centre for developing and progressing suicide prevention policies.
The action areas identified in Reach Out have led to the implementation of national training programmes, the availability of self-harm services in Accident and Emergency Departments throughout the country, a review of bereavement services and support for voluntary organisations working in the field of suicide prevention.
In light of the increased information about suicide and self-harm, an interim target of a 10% reduction in suicide by 2010 has been set. I know that tackling this problem will not be easy but if we are to prevent further tragic loss of life, we simply must continue our efforts in this area. Those efforts will soon be measured and found either wanting or successful - with your help, with the help of Government and of all of us - I believe we can be successful.
Looking at the island of Ireland, work is underway at delivering the actions outlined in the All Island Action Plan on suicide prevention, in the hope of reaping the benefits that can be achieved through North-South collaboration. Collaboration, I firmly believe, provides us with a key to multiply our efforts to combat suicide. Across the island, a plethora of individual initiatives, often driven by the tragedy of one particular family or community, is evident. The energy behind each of these initiatives is fantastic and would be greatly multiplied if they were able to work with other similar initiatives plugged into a national network which, while not impinging on the independence of individual initiatives, would ensure that they are sustainable, and that they have access to best-practice as it is disseminated by conferences such as this.
In March 2005, I hosted the first ever suicide forum at Áras an Uachtaráin where people gathered to share insights and experiences in relation to dealing with suicide. The National Office for Suicide Prevention now hosts an annual forum for all those working in suicide prevention. These fora help to consolidate and validate ongoing work in this area, and serve to keep the focus fresh and the determination sharp.
I have been heartened to learn of the valuable research work being carried out into suicide prevention. A major benefit of this research is that valuable information on suicidal behaviour can be obtained and at-risk groups can be identified early. Data from research projects form an important resource for the development of prevention and intervention programmes. In Ireland, the National Suicide Research Foundation is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a centre of excellence and the Irish focal point for sharing information regarding suicide and its prevention.
Suicide is an issue which affects every element of our society. In particular, the frequent clustering of suicides leaves not just individuals bereaved - families, friends, neighbours and colleagues - but also devastates entire communities, leaving a legacy of hurt, confusion, insecurity and fear.
Reducing suicide rates requires a collective, concerted effort from all groups in society: health, social services, other professionals, communities and community leaders, voluntary and statutory agencies and organisations, parents, friends, neighbours and individuals. It also requires the careful nurturing of a culture in which people in psychological distress don’t hesitate to seek help from family, friends, health professionals and community leaders, a culture that recognises the signs and signals of distress and is willing to help, and that focuses early in life on developing good coping skills and avoiding harmful practices; in short, a sensitive culture that cherishes human courtesy and takes responsibility for our own and the mental health of others. Suicide occurs in many diverse contexts but there are recurring patterns and elements that research is revealing to us and the more we are learning the better we are able to devise strategies and take action.
We already know, for example, that alcohol abuse plays a very significant role in suicide and features prominently in youth suicide. Research has also established that cannabis increases the risk of depression and psychosis and that it reduces normal inhibitions against suicide. Since marijuana is the illegal drug most used by those under twenty-five, a critical factor in suicide prevention must be to inform young people as to its danger and counter the erroneous impression that it is a benign substance.
We know that bullying sometimes features in the story of suicide. Our young people need to know just how damaging, just how unacceptable bullying is. Education, access to support structures whether at work, school or home are an essential part of protecting the victim of bullying not just from the bully but from their own downward spiral into suicidal thoughts.
A less discussed but nonetheless important issue worth raising is the issue of dealing with sexual identity. Although Ireland is making considerable progress in developing a culture of genuine equality, recognition and acceptance of gay men and women, there is still an undercurrent of both bias and hostility which young gay people must find deeply hurtful and inhibiting. For them, homosexuality is a discovery, not a decision and for many it is a discovery which is made against a backdrop where, within their immediate circle of family and friends as well as the wider society, they have long encountered anti-gay attitudes which will do little to help them deal openly and healthily with their own sexuality.
So next time we shake our heads in both horror and despair when we hear of another suicide story, it is worth remembering that the answers do not lie exclusively with health care professionals or politicians. There are things we need to do and to be vigilant about as a community that cares about its citizens and especially its vulnerable young. Among the things we could do as individuals, as families and as community that would impact significantly on our suicide statistics and indeed our overall mental health are – we could and should as a matter of urgency decommission our culture of binge drinking, of tolerance of alcohol abuse and of drug abuse and we could and should decommission attitudes that encourage bullying of all sorts and in particular attitudes that are deeply hurtful to those who are homosexual.
The holding of this conference in Ireland is very important for us; it provides an opportunity to share best practice with practitioners worldwide, it raises the profile of a rapidly evolving problem in Ireland and it shows our determination to fight this scourge. I am delighted to hear from you that this conference has been so productive in sharing ways in which we can address the task which lies ahead.
This event has benefited from the support of a number of organisations including the Department of Health and Children, the National Office for Suicide Prevention, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Northern Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Console and the Samaritans. I wish to give special mention to the Irish Association of Suicidology and the International Association of Suicide Prevention for the hard work which went into organising this conference and indeed for your continued commitment to suicide prevention. I would also like to honour the vital work that all of you and the many, many other individuals and voluntary groups in our society do for the cause of suicide prevention.
Finally, I thank you all for attending this conference. May your efforts be vindicated by those lives you touch and bring comfort to.
Go n-éirí go geal libh agus go raibh míle, míle maith agaibh.