Key priorities for preventing suicide in Northern Ireland

In 2021, 237 people in Northern Ireland took their own lives. Every single one of those deaths was a tragedy that devastated families, friends and communities. Samaritans believe 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. Suicide prevention is a cross-party, inter-departmental responsibility. Only by working together on this issue can true progress be achieved.

Suicide is a major public health concern and is therefore a subject that is very much in the public interest. While sensitive reporting can inform and educate the public about suicide and the signs to look out for, there is strong and consistent research evidence that some forms of reporting lead to increases in suicide rates, Coverage from the media and individual on social media can influence how people behave in a crisis. In contrast some reporting can help save lives. Samaritans' Media guidelines are best practice and provide advice and training to support informed safe coverage.

There are many ways to produce sensitive, informed coverage of suicide, to ensure all those who comment on suicide use best practice. We are calling for:

Studies show that 70% of those who die by suicide in Northern Ireland have been prescribed mental health medications. As well as illustrating the link with mental illness, it also shows there might have been an opportunity for health care staff to ask about suicidal thoughts. While primary care is the most common service used prior to death by suicide, one study found that 82% of people attended their GP practice in the year prior to suicide.

Given the opportunity for medical staff to ask about suicidal thoughts, we are calling for:

The internet can be an invaluable space for individuals experiencing self-harm and suicidal feelings, providing opportunities for users to speak openly about difficult feelings, and to access support form peers experiencing similar feelings. Whilst suicide and self harm are complex and rarely caused by one thing, in many cases the internet is involved.

This ground-breaking study titled - An Open Secret: Self-Harm and Stigma in Ireland and Northern Ireland– has shed light on the destructive power of stigma that can silence, shame, and push individuals who struggle with self-harm into secrecy. This study is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, providing crucial insights into this sensitive topic. Thats why we are calling for: