Group warned not to cut mental health funding

A CROSS-PARTY Oireachtas group on mental health has been told there must be no funding cuts to mental health services as the recession increases the number of people committing suicide.

The group met following confirmation on Tuesday that the number of reported suicides for 2009 was 527, 24% higher than the previous year.

A number of experts in the area said the true figure for 2009 was almost certainly much higher due to non-reporting of suicide and the figure for 2010 would show another significant increase as the effects of the downturn took an even firmer hold.