New funding allocations to tackle suicide must be used to best effect

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 30th Mar 2006

Young Alliance Chairman Ian James Parsley has said that an extra £2 million allocation to tackle suicide is a tribute to the hard work of families affected, but is still a long way short of enough.

Cllr Parsley stated: "The work by families who have suffered so appallingly due to self-harm and suicide is a story of genuine heroism, and I am glad to see the Government recognizing that. Families have led the way in drawing the attention of ministers to this issue.

"Mental health issues are a silent scourge in our society. The 'Try the Trenches' attitude still reigns too often. Finance to look at these issues in Northern Ireland is eaten up by theoretical 'conflict resolution' projects rather than practical assistance to vulnerable people.

"Mental health problems are no respecter of class or background, nor are they limited to 'syndromes'. They exist in lots of different forms right across the board, being effectively the prime killer of young men in Northern Ireland today. The suicide rate has spiralled appallingly since 1998, another example of our political leadership failings.

"I have made pushing for reallocation of resources away from technicalities and on to real provision of advice, counselling and professional assistance to young people a priority since election. There is now at least some light at the end of the tunnel, but much remains to be done."

ENDS