We’ll replace retiring suicide prevention chief: Reilly

HEALTH minister Dr James Reilly has promised that the head of the Government’s suicide prevention body would be “immediately replaced” after he announced he was retiring early from the post.

Geoff Day, director of the National Suicide Prevention Office, said media publicity over his departure was a “distraction” from the real issue — the “ongoing and persistent tragedy of suicide.”

Dr Reilly accepted Mr Day had previously expressed concern over staffing levels in the office, but said he was not retiring for this reason.