Northern Ireland launches suicide reduction strategy

A long-term strategy for reducing suicides and the incidence of self-harm has been launched in Northern Ireland with action delivered across a range of Government departments, agencies, and sectors. The €˜Protect Life 2′ Suicide Prevention Strategy stresses the importance of services, communities, families and society working together to help prevent suicides over the next five years. Richard Pengelly, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health, said: €œSuicide is preventable and not inevitable, yet almost every day in Northern Ireland a person takes their own life. Whilst suicide rates here have remained relatively stable over the last decade the level is without a