SDLP Health Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA has said that the failure to agree and implement a new suicide prevention strategy for Northern Ireland is a damning indictment of politics.
He said: “The figures available from NISRA on suicide deaths in the North make for sobering reading.
“297 recorded suicide deaths last year and 164 suicide deaths in the first six months of this year are frightening statistics.
“But they also don’t tell the full story, there’s a significant number of suicides that aren’t recorded as such.
“We must do more to help those in despair.
“The issues that have divided parties and politicians pale into insignificance next to this massive problem that affects all of our communities.
“There must be cross party unity on this issue.
“The failure to agree and implement a new suicide prevention strategy is a damning indictment of our politics.
“How can we credibly tell people in despair to seek help if we aren’t providing enough support ourselves?
“This issue matters to the SDLP.
“We will continue to exhaust every avenue to get a new strategy agreed and implemented as soon as possible to help support those in critical need,” added Mr Durkan.
