Train GPs to recognise depression that may lead to suicide, says Senator

GPs should get training to to identify if patients have forms of depression which may lead to suicide, it was claimed today.

GPs should get training to identify if patients have forms of depression which may lead to suicide, it was claimed today.

Government Senator Mary White also called for increased taxes on alcoholic drinks favoured by young people and for over-the-counter medications to be reduced in size.

A total of 2,800 people in Ireland died from suicide from 2003 to 2006, according to Ms White.

The Dundalk-born businesswoman, who wants to run for the Irish presidency in 2011, is due to launch a research document, ’What We Can Do About Suicide in The New Ireland’ tomorrow.

Ms White said she wrote the paper in response to calls from politicians, parents and community groups to take a fresh look at suicide prevention.

“Reducing alcohol consumption, training GPs in identifying depression and restricting access to lethal means are key factors in tackling suicide in our country,” said senator.

She claimed that the real levels of suicide may be higher than the official statistics as many possible suicides are misclassified as undetermined deaths.

She added: “Another harrowing statistic is that 4.5% of road accident fatalities in Ireland between 1978 and 1992 were likely suicides.

“Small measures such as reducing pack sizes of over the counter medications will help in the path to preventing suicide.

“I will also be urging the Government to increase excise duties on those alcoholic drinks most favoured by young people, as a way of reducing alcohol consumption. (Alcohol was involved in approximately half of all suicide deaths in Ireland).

Dundalk-born Ms White, who co-founded Lir Chocolates in 1987, also wants to encourage others to use the information in her research to come up with useful initiatives to help prevent suicide.