Belfast News Editorial: Northern Ireland Crisis Calls

A Government Meeting on suicide has heard that over 211,000 calls have been received since January 2008, by Northern Ireland Charity Lifeline.

The meeting which was chaired by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey, was also attended by the Junior Ministers Gerry Kelly and Robin Newton, representatives from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Department of Education, Department for Regional Development, Department for Employment and Learning and the Public Health Agency.

Mr. McGimpsey, aware that the Northern Ireland suicide rate remains high, stressed the importance of tackling this issue, stating 'Every suicide is an absolute tragedy and has a profound and devastating impact on families, friends and their local communities'. 'I am particularly concerned that the current economic downturn will place added pressure on vulnerable people'.

Editorial

With nearly a quarter of a million calls, in just over two years, desperately seeking help to get through current woes, the responsibility falls on the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that their policies ease people's day to day living and do not add to the pressure's mounting from other quarters.

The Minister appears all to aware, that the economic downturn has the potential to add significant pressure and perhaps act a a catalyst. As such, they need to address the source of the problem, rather than applying a band-aid. It is indeed upsetting that the Northern Ireland Assembly appears, on the whole, to lack basic understanding of those in need across this country and that people watch their elected representatives and their departments, day in day out, waste millions, whilst they scrape to make ends meet.

Suicide, affects everyone involved, destroying the lives of those left behind and removing forever a life, that many found precious. Sometimes, in the midst of dark times, we forget that all around us are people willing to help, uplift and encourage - even this charity, Lifeline.

Last Updated: 20th January 2011