The opening line of the Safer Communities section states ‘A central role of government is to protect its citizens.’

One of the most glaring omissions of the draft Programme for Government (PfG) is the fact that no mention is of protecting people at risk or affected by suicide.

Over 200 people die by suicide every year in Northern Ireland. In a few weeks it is expected the Northern Ireland Research & Statistics Agency will confirm that the number of reported suicides in Northern Ireland in 2023 has risen to 221.Unreported suicides could be as many as 55 more. Suicide behaviours/ suicide attempts could be anything up to 22100 and the number of people affected by the suicide deaths, each year, could be 37260.

‘By keeping communities safe we enable them to have the confidence they need to live productively and engage fully in society’ the draft document states

Suicide in Northern Ireland is a major public health emergency, yet it merits no mention in the document.

At the tip of this ‘iceberg’, the societal impact of suicide, is the actual deaths and with no urgency, priority or prevention target, over 600 more people will die over the time of this PfG.

By our calculations, almost 60,000 people are affected by suicide every year here. That means that over the three year life of the PfG 180,000 people are to be left with ‘treatment as usual’ with no Government urgency or priority brought to bear on this crisis.

At the tip of this ‘iceberg’, the societal impact of suicide, is the actual deaths and with no urgency, priority or prevention target, over 600 more people will die over the time of this PfG.

As this document is only in draft form, it’s not too late.

The First & Deputy First Minister and their Executive colleagues could take a bold stance on suicide. First, they could declare that the goal for suicide deaths is zero.

Secondly, people who self-harm, attempt suicide or have abused substances should have their care delivered away from Emergency Departments to alternative and more appropriate environments.

Thirdly people who survive the suicide of someone close are potentially at higher risk of suicide The response to families and friends of those die by suicide needs to be standardised as currently each Trust area operates a different support approach.

Considerations should be given to an ‘opt out’ approach to the care of these people. Often, in the early days following the suicide death family members decline the support offered.

Perhaps representatives of the care agencies should proceed with contacting the family some weeks after the death despite their earlier refusal. The family now are in perhaps a much better position to either accept the help offered or to ’ opt out’

'We are committed to keeping our communities safe and to making sure you feel confident and secure to live your life to its fullest’. This is the opening line of the Safer Communities Actions section of the draft PfG.

It’s not too late for our Government to show that they will make suicide prevention a priority so that all of us can feel confident and secure to live our lives to their fullest.