28 February 2008

Southern Trust presentation to the Health Committee

Local Suicide Coordinators from Health and Social Care Trusts have made a presentation to the Health Committee at Stormont today.

Melanie McClements, Assistant Director of Promoting Wellbeing at the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, participated in the Committee’s Inquiry into Suicide.

“The Trust’s ‘Protect Life’ Implementation Group involves 40 partners from community, voluntary and statutory sectors,” explains Ms McClements. “Membership includes representatives from Public Initiative for Suicide Prevention and Self Harm, Niamh Louise Foundation, Breakthru, REACT, Cruse Bereavement, TASSK, local Churches and General Practice.

“An action plan on suicide prevention in the Southern Trust area has been developed, implemented and is being monitored in a partnership approach. There is also a sub group made up of members from the voluntary and community sectors to shape the implementation of the local strategy.

“Funding for the suicide prevention action plan was agreed with the Southern Health and Social Services Board in July 2007. We have secured funding of £232k for Southern Trust area and partners have been involved in influencing the allocation of that financial support.”

Ms McClements added that recruitment is underway for two full-time Protect Life Development Workers in the Southern Area – one with Niamh Louise Foundation and one with Public Initiative for Suicide Prevention and Self Harm (PIPS). They will be involved in coordinating and developing services across communities and with partner organisations in the Southern area.

“By 1 April 2008, seven locally based resource centres in Lurgan, Banbridge, Kilkeel, Newry, Dungannon and Armagh will offer drop-in facilities, assessment and onward referral, and counselling services. There will also be a mobile service for schools, community and youth settings in the area.”

The Trust’s Director of Mental Health and Disability Francis Rice adds, “There will be an increase in counselling provision for those who have been bereaved by suicide and this is with the full support of our partners. New targeted training will be introduced, including mentoring programmes for young people.”

The Trust has recently hosted a cross-border suicide conference which involved key speakers and was jointly hosted by Colm Donaghy, Chairperson of the Northern Ireland Strategic Suicide Implementation Body and Chief Executive of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, and Geoff Day, Director of the National Office for Suicide Prevention at the Health Service Executive.