Mary Butler, Minister of State at the Department of Health: I am pleased to be here in the Seanad to discuss the very important topic of mental health and suicide prevention. This month is mental health awareness month, and today is “Hello, how are you?” day, when we mark the annual campaign led by Mental Health Ireland which encourages meaningful conversations and reminds us of the power of this simple question. The message of the campaign is that talking about mental health can be difficult but starting that conversation does not have to be. This is my first time speaking on Seanad statements since I was reappointed as Minister of State with responsibility for mental health. It has been an honour and privilege to be the first person to bring the mental health portfolio to the Cabinet table. This is a real milestone for mental health in Ireland and shows the importance it has for the Government.

Our statements today are about mental health and suicide prevention. As a society there is a huge amount for us to reflect on when it comes to the issue of suicide. Each death is so devastating for that person, their loved ones, friends and communities. As I have said before, there is no greater tragedy than someone deciding that life is not worth living. As Minister of State, I never lose sight of this and it is a critical area of focus for me. All of us in the Government are committed to improving mental health services and reducing suicide.

Just last week I brought a memo to Cabinet, to update Government on key developments in suicide reduction, and to note the significant reduction in the suicide rate and the reduction and stabilisation of the self-harm rate. In recent years there have been several positive developments in reducing suicide and self-harm rates in Ireland. Between the years 2000 and 2021, Ireland has seen a 28% reduction in the suicide rate. This has resulted in Ireland having the 11th lowest suicide rate in the EU for all deaths, according to Eurostat data. Government also noted that preliminary data for 2023, showing 302 deaths, was the lowest preliminary figure in more than 20 years. Of course, this is provisional data and it will be revised upwards, but we are making progress.

Recently published data from the National Suicide Research Foundation self-harm registry also highlights that, between 2010 and 2023, self-harm rates decreased by 12%. This is another positive development, as previous self-harm remains the biggest risk factor for suicide.

When we talk about suicide reduction, we never want to focus too much on figures. We are always conscious of the people we have lost and how much more we need to do. The developments in reducing the incidence of self-harm and suicide have been primarily realised through work aligned with the goals of Connecting for Life, our national suicide reduction strategy. There has been sustained investment in suicide reduction initiatives, and the budget and expenditure of the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention has increased from €5 million in 2012 to almost €15 million in 2025.

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