Suicide prevention services extended

Further suicide prevention services are to be provided in 2013 in Co Kerry, which has the highest rate of death by suicide in the country.

Pieta House, which offers specialist treatment programmes for people contemplating suicide, or those engaging in self-harm, plans to open a centre in Castleisland, where a premises has become available, by June.

The demand for the services provided by Pieta House, which includes free counselling, continues to grow, with a 40% rise in the number of people availing of its services in the first six months of the year.