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| Call for new approach on suicides | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A suicide prevention director should be appointed in Northern Ireland, the assembly has been told. | A suicide prevention director should be appointed in Northern Ireland, the assembly has been told. |
| An average of 195 people take their own lives in NI each year, while 4,500 are hospitalised after attempting suicide or deliberately injuring themselves. | An average of 195 people take their own lives in NI each year, while 4,500 are hospitalised after attempting suicide or deliberately injuring themselves. |
| An inquiry, by the assembly's health committee, was initiated after a spate of suicides in the County Armagh village of Laurelvale last year. | An inquiry, by the assembly's health committee, was initiated after a spate of suicides in the County Armagh village of Laurelvale last year. |
| It said the introduction of a regional suicide helpline was premature. | It said the introduction of a regional suicide helpline was premature. |
| As well as appointing a director to ensure the government's Protecting Life strategy is prioritised across statutory organisations, the committee made several other recommendations to Health Minister Michael McGimpsey. | As well as appointing a director to ensure the government's Protecting Life strategy is prioritised across statutory organisations, the committee made several other recommendations to Health Minister Michael McGimpsey. |
| Committee chairwoman Iris Robinson said: "Based on the evidence given to the committee, we believe that closer co-operation within and across a range of government departments will enable Protect Life to achieve its goals of preventing suicide and self-harm. | Committee chairwoman Iris Robinson said: "Based on the evidence given to the committee, we believe that closer co-operation within and across a range of government departments will enable Protect Life to achieve its goals of preventing suicide and self-harm. |
| "In addition, we believe that involving churches, local authorities, and sports groups in the delivery of the strategy, as well as ring-fencing project funds for the next three years, will all aid its success." | "In addition, we believe that involving churches, local authorities, and sports groups in the delivery of the strategy, as well as ring-fencing project funds for the next three years, will all aid its success." |
| The health committee found that a pilot helpline for north and west Belfast for people in danger of taking their own lives was rolled out across Northern Ireland before it had been properly evaluated. | The health committee found that a pilot helpline for north and west Belfast for people in danger of taking their own lives was rolled out across Northern Ireland before it had been properly evaluated. |
| It described the decision as "rash". | It described the decision as "rash". |
| However, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said the helpline deals with 200 calls per day and is "about saving lives". | |
| "I took the decision to roll out the service province-wide because of the high volume of calls received by the pilot helpline and because there was clear demand emerging from elsewhere in Northern Ireland," he said. | |
| Among the other recommendations were: | Among the other recommendations were: |
| The issue was debated in the assembly after the report's finding were outlined. | |