YFG to Establish Initiative on Youth Suicide

On 23rd January, Young Fine Gael hosted a policy seminar/think-tank on the issue of youth suicide. The meeting was held in Ballaghadereen, Co. Roscommon and was very well attended drawing support from many branches right across the country.

The seminar was chaired by YFG Vice President Elizabeth Munnelly (Ballina YFG) and involved an open forum round-table type discussion on many aspects of this emotive topic. Chief in all the participants’ minds was the need to treat the issue of youth suicide with due sensitivity and dignity. In what amounted to a ground breaking activity for the YFG organisation, the meeting facilitated a frank and open debate which centred around two basic themes, (1) the importance of a public information based initiative targeted at young people and (2) the development of YFG campaign centring on the issue of awareness-raising and policy formulation.

The meeting was addressed by Councillor John McTernan, Fine Gael member on Leitrim County Council and his daughter Clare who is the chairperson of Leitrim YFG. The McTernan family have been recently bereaved and both John and Clare shared their experiences with the meeting in a poignant manner and both testified to the need for support structures to be put in place for the bereaved. The McTernan family have joined with a number of other bereaved families to establish an organisation called STOP (Suicide: Teach, Organise, Prevent), STOP will be holding a two day conference on February 18th and 19th in the Abbey Manor Hotel, Dromahair, Co. Leitrim and it will be supported by YFG.

The Ballaghadereen seminar involved a modest but important beginning in what could prove to be one of YFG’s bravest policy departures to date. A committee has been organised to co-ordinate the background/developmental work needed before concrete proposals can be presented. Maura Hopkins of the North Roscommon Branch who has carried out previous research in this area will chair this committee, the position of Secretary will be held by Clare McTernan.

Cllr John McTernan highlighted the appalling under funding in the Mental Health sector, making the comparison between the funding road safety campaign’s receive with suicide prevention here in Ireland. “Suicide claims as many lives each year as road traffic accidents, yet the government are neglecting to adequately fund suicide prevention campaigns and education in relation to depression” he stated.

“Research has shown that suicide now accounts for 30% of all deaths on the 15-24 year old age group. Youth suicide needs to become the focus of the attention of all organisations that represent Young Ireland, we in YFG are committed to playing our role, in a dignified, sympathetic and pro-active way” added Elizabeth Munnelly.

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