Pat Ramsey MLA calls for action to tackle suicide

SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey has called for all-island action to tackle self harm and suicide.

He made the call following a meeting of the North/South Parliamentary Assocation at Stormont on Friday.

The body is made up of  TDs and Senators which met in Stormont today.

Almost 1,000 in Northern Ireland and in the Republic take their own lives every year.

Speaking after the meeting, the SDLP MLA said: “The death of a loved one is a severely traumatic time for any family but with suicide it is magnified.

“It is important that the issues of self harm, suicide and prevention were a focus of today’s meeting between parlaimentarians across the island of Ireland because suicide and the devastation it leaves behind respects no border or boundaries.

“With an estimated 300 people taking their lives in the North and up to 600 people taking their lives in the South every year there is a real need for people across the Island to address why people are feeling so desolate and in despair, men in particular.

“There is also a need to address on both sides of the border the impact ofpost-traumatic stress as a result of the troubles.

“The discussion today was very useful but there is no point in talking and leaving the room to do nothing. The Health Departments north and south must work closer together to prevent any more families from going through the pain and torment of self harm and suicide.