Figures show that Ireland ranks fourth within the EU in the number of young people taking their own lives.
On foot of this fact, a new national suicide prevention strategy called “Connecting for life” will be published next week. It is hoped that such strategy will aid teachers to identify risk factors among vulnerable students. The new programme also aims to promote problem solving for the students themselves, and avoid alcohol and drug usage to relieve stress.
‘Connecting for life” will also seek to expand the availability of crisis nurses and other health professionals to deal with patients intent on self-harm or suicide.