Director appointed to suicide prevention body

The key post of director of the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) has finally been filled after being vacant for over a year.

Gerry Raleigh, a trained psychiatric nurse and former director of St John of Gods Services in Dublin West, is due to take up the post next week.

His appointment comes at a time when preliminary figures for death by suicide for the first quarter of 2012 show a 19% increase — from 95 to 113 — over the same period last year.