Durkan: Strategy for suicide crisis should not be delayed

SDLP Health Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has said that the North of Ireland cannot afford to wait until political agreement is reached for a Suicide Strategy to be implemented.

Mr Durkan commented after the Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride stated that the new suicide strategy – Protect Life 2 – has been finalised but cannot be published without Ministerial endorsement.

The MLA for Foyle lost his beloved sister Gay to suicide in 2011.

Said Mr Durkan: “It is a damning indictment of politics here that a significant step towards tackling the scourge of suicide cannot be taken due to the deadlock between the DUP and Sinn Fein.

“An important suicide prevention strategy is gathering dust in an empty minister’s office while those parties are still squaring up to each other rather than stepping up for everyone else.

“The failure to implement this strategy is nothing short of disgraceful.

“This needs signed off and rolled out.

“The strategy, like a government, is not going to wave a magic wand and let everyone live happily ever after but it should make a real difference and would save lives.”

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