HSE selects Kinsale as area to benefit from suicide prevention measures

It is part of a HSE programme called 'Connecting For Life'

The Bandon/Kinsale Municipal District Council heard that one anti-suicide measure is already in place at The Old Head of Kinsale. File picture: Andy Gibson

Kinsale has been identified by the HSE as a location that needs anti-suicide measures with one already in place at ‘The Old Head’ in the hope it will deter people from taking their lives there.

A meeting of the Bandon/Kinsale Municipal District Council was informed that some months ago Cork County Council was asked to engage with the HSE in a programme called “Connecting For Life”.

Local municipal district officer Brian Dunne said as part of the Connecting for Life strategy, the HSE works with stakeholders including Cork County Council on a number of agreed actions and goals to stop people taking their own lives.

He said one of the national and local goals set out in its strategy is to reduce and restrict access to means of suicidal behaviour and this can include erecting signage, increasing lighting, installing barriers and lifebuoys.

“Representatives of the HSE met with council officials and An Garda Síochána where Kinsale was highlighted as an area where interventions could be of benefit,” Mr Dunne said.

He added that on foot of this the municipal district council approached a landowner in the area “to assess whether they would be amenable to the council building an earthen ditch on this site to which they agreed". 

Mr Dunne said the purpose of this mound is to provide “both a physical and mental barrier” which they have been advised has been a success in other areas by the HSE professionals.

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

He didn’t mention which other areas nationally had been the subject of similar actions.

“It is important to mention that we have not promoted these locations or actions as we are aware of the sensitivities of bereaved families locally,” he added.

However, on foot of a query from Fianna Fáil councillor Gillian Coughlan, Mr Dunne said that the ‘mound barrier’ had been developed in conjunction with a private landowner at the Old Head of Kinsale.

“If this programme saves just one life then we feel it will be a success and we would welcome the support of the community in this initiative,” Mr Dunne said.