Public consultation on Ireland’s next suicide reduction policy

The Irish Government’s approach to suicide reduction, intervention and postvention (support after a tragedy has occurred) is set out in the Connecting for Life policy. It provides a comprehensive plan, based on the best international evidence, for how we can reduce levels of suicide in our country. Connecting for Life was launched in 2015 and came to an end in 2024. Part of its development included an extensive public consultation process with submissions from 272 members of the public, representative organisations, mental health service users and community organisations.

Connecting for Life is currently being evaluated to assess how well the different parts of the plan have worked. A final report is due in June 2025. At the same time, the Department of Health Mental Health Unit has begun working on a successor policy, which builds on the successes of the current one and takes account of new evidence. This policy is due to be completed by the end of 2025. The new policy will set out Government’s approach to suicide reduction from 2026 onwards.

As part of the development of Ireland’s next suicide reduction policy, the Department of Health invites members of the public, groups and organisations to share their feedback/experience/evidence about suicide reduction in Ireland and what they would like to see in a new policy. We particularly want to hear from people with lived and living experience of suicide. We recognise the hugely important contribution people with lived experience of suicide bring to suicide prevention. We also acknowledge every life we have lost to suicide in Ireland and those within our communities who are significantly impacted by suicide.

The Department of Health is working with the National Suicide Research Foundation who are providing expert advice on the public consultation process and who will support the development of the final report on the process.

The consultation process will involve an online survey and in-person and online consultation events.

Members of the public/organisations can take part in the consultation process by completing a short survey at Suicide Reduction Policy - Public Consultation. The survey will ask some questions about you or your organisation. You will be asked what you think about suicide reduction, and you will also have an opportunity to share your experience/feedback with the Department of Health.

The closing date for the survey is 5pm on Friday 18 April 2025. It will not be possible to access the online survey after this time.

At the end of the survey you will asked to leave your contact details if you wish to be invited to one of the in-person or online consultation meetings the Department of Health will be running in March, April and May.

The data gathered through this consultation will be used for that purpose in accordance with departmental best practice procedures and GDPR. The consultation is anonymous and no one responding is required to provide personal data. We are using a tool called EUSurvey, which will not save any personal data such as IP addresses. Please do not to include any personally identifiable information in their answers to the consultation questions.

The final question gives you the option of providing contact details should you be interested in being contacted for possible follow-up afterwards. The Department of Health, in the interests of transparency, intends to publish on its website a summary of submissions received in response to this public consultation process. Contact email information, if optionally provided, will be redacted as standard.

If you have any questions about the Public Consultation process, please email suicidereductionconsultation@health.gov.ie

The Department of Health reminds people that suicide is a very sensitive subject. Some people may find this topic upsetting. We ask that people are mindful of this before taking the survey, or while answering questions.

If you are concerned about your mental health or that of someone you know, please access the HSE website www.yourmentalhealth.ie. This website is a ‘one-stop-shop’ portal for people seeking information on trusted mental health supports and services, including information on accessing urgent help.

To view the consultation click the button below.