Samaritans in Northern Ireland releases Key Priorities for Preventing Suicide for 2022 Assembly Election

This new document outlines the policy actions politicians can take to reduce the rates of suicide in Northern Ireland.

In 2019, 209 people in Northern Ireland took their own lives. Every single one of these deaths was a tragedy that devastated families, friends and communities. Samaritans believes suicide is preventable, not inevitable, and it is our vision that fewer people die by suicide.

“Realising this vision is everyone’s business, and politicians all have a part to play in saving lives, whether that’s by influencing party policy, pushing for change in their constituency, or keeping the issue on the agenda in the Northern Ireland Assembly,” said Samaritans Policy & Development Officer (NI), Ellen Finlay.

Samaritans in NI’s Policy Asks include:

• Prevention: Sufficient funding to allow us to continue to roll out and train those in public-facing roles on our best practice guidelines on media reporting and memorials to ensure safe coverage and reporting of suicide.
• Early Intervention: All medical staff to be trained in suicide prevention to recognise signs of mental ill health / potential suicidal ideation e.g. midwives, pharmacists, emergency service staff, GPs and staff in health care roles.
• Reduction: A new offence to be created of encouraging or assisting serious self-harm with clearly malicious intent.

“Suicide prevention is a crossparty, inter-departmental responsibility. Only by working together on this issue can true progress be achieved,” Ellen continued.

For further information contact Ellen Finlay, Policy & Development Officer (NI): [email protected]