Minister rules out review of suicide claims

The mental health minister, Kathleen Lynch, will not set up an “urgent” review into claims that people are dying by suicide despite seeking medical help, as there is “no evidence” they are sent home by doctors “too early”.

Speaking after the Psychiatric Nurses Association warned that dozens of people are dying needlessly due to the issue every year, the Labour TD said she has met with the HSE to discuss the “concerns”.

However, despite the medical union calling for an “urgent” review to examine what they claim is a hidden crisis, and calls for a new category in suicide reports to properly count these specific deaths, Ms Lynch said this “may not be practical”.