First Console and now St John of God. How are these charity scandals emerging when there is supposed to be a Charities Regulator in place now?

Doctors, family and support groups like Pieta House must unite to reduce suicide, writes Ken Phelan

A HSE group tasked with battling Ireland’s suicide epidemic failed to spend almost a third of its budget last year due to serious delays in finding someone to lead the organisation.

The country’s “real” suicide rate is significantly higher than official levels suggest as deaths are being wrongly classified during inquests, a suicide charity has warned.

Amid genuinely positive news this week showing Ireland’s official suicide levels fell for the first time since the recession began, one vital point was left relatively unstated.

School groups and mental health agencies say new guidelines to help schools promote positive mental health and prevent suicide will only be effective if they are backed up with proper training and resources.

A range of psychologists and other mental health experts were on hand to support Shannon Gallagher’s schoolmates and teachers after the tragedy.

More than a quarter of all new child and adolescent referrals for mental health treatment in the past year have been due to self-harm or suicidal thoughts.

Even the sunniest dispositions have been challenged by the wet summer. Put yourself in the place of a farmer managing livestock or crops; record rainfall, below normal temperatures, and low sunshine levels have made every day a challenge.

THIS week, after nine years of war, the United States finally withdrew its forces from Iraq.

THE founding member of a coalition of suicide charities, the Action on Suicide Alliance, has pulled out of the organisation claiming it now lacks independence and cannot criticise its state funders.

ONE in eight calls to the Samaritans is now due to the effects of the recession, with some people simply ringing up to sob down the phone line.

CONCERNS have been raised that four suicides in the Tallaght/Crumlin area in recent weeks may be linked as all the men knew each other and two worked together.

THE funding cuts of 12.5% for the National Office of Suicide Prevention (NOSP), as you reported on March 12, underlines the lack of proactive thinking on the issue.

A new campaign to raise awareness of mental health issues has been launched to coincide with World Mental Health Day today.

Young people experiencing difficulties in their lives were being encouraged to talk to others about it in an innovative national mental health promotion campaign called "Tough Times" unveiled today Whelan's of Wexford Street.

Broadcaster George Hook today revealed that he once planned to kill himself by jumping off Dun Laoghaire Pier in Dublin - but backed out at the last minute.

Efforts to tackle suicide and self-harm are being discussed in Dublin today at the second annual forum arranged by the HSE's National Office of Suicide Prevention.

Efforts to tackle suicide and self-harm are due to be discussed in Dublin today at the second annual forum arranged by the HSE's National Office of Suicide Prevention.

A NEW initiative aimed at getting help for people with suicidal tendencies before they harm themselves is being launched next week.

Suicide is the biggest cause of death among men and women under the age of 35 in Ireland, latest figures revealed.