Minister for Mental Health advises Government of overall reduction in suicide and self-harm rates in Ireland

The Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler, has today updated Cabinet colleagues about a reduction in Ireland’s suicide and self-harm rates, and the level of response to the public consultation on the new suicide reduction policy currently being developed by the Department of Health.

In recent years there has been significant progress in reducing incidence of suicide and self-harm, and between the years 2000 and 2021 Ireland has seen a 28% reduction in the suicide rate, falling from 12.9 per 100,000 in 2000 to 9.2 per 100,000 in 2021. This has resulted in Ireland having the 11th lowest suicide rate in the EU for all deaths, according to Eurostat data.

Preliminary figures record 302 deaths by suicide in 2023, the lowest preliminary figure in over 20 years.

While there is a significant time lag in reporting on deaths by suicide, and this number will revise upwards as Coroner investigations conclude, the overall decline shows progress in suicide reduction in Ireland.

It’s important to acknowledge every life lost to suicide is one too many, and the government is committed to further reduction of suicide through the development and implementation of a new suicide reduction policy.

Recently published data from the National Suicide Research Foundation Self-Harm Registry also highlights that between 2010 and 2023, self-harm rates decreased by 12%. Previous self-harm remains the biggest risk factor for suicide.

Speaking after Cabinet today, Minister Butler said:

Deaths by suicide in Ireland peaked in 2012 during the recession, and the rate has been decreasing for some years now. There is also no indication that there was an increase in the number of people who lost their lives to suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic, where a comprehensive package of financial supports was put in place to support those at risk. Financial stress is a key risk factor for suicide.

Connecting for Life is Ireland’s national suicide reduction strategy, which came to an end in 2024. Implementation of the strategy was led by the Health Service Executive’s (HSE’s) National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) and the Department of Health and had strong cross-departmental support from areas including, Justice, Education, Higher Education, Agriculture and Social Protection.

There has been sustained investment in suicide reduction initiatives over the lifetime of the strategy, with the budget of the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention increasing from €5 million in 2012 to almost €15 million in 2025.

The Department of Health is currently working to develop Ireland’s new suicide reduction policy in collaboration with the main stakeholders across government and society more broadly.

Minister Butler concluded:

Suicide Mortality and Self Harm Data

Each November, the CSO release annual suicide statistics, including late registered deaths, for the period three years before. The last year for which we have official figures is 2021. For years after 2021, figures are available from the CSO’s Vital Statistics releases, excluding late registrations. Currently, the data for 2022 shows 436 deaths, and the preliminary figure for 2023 shows 302 deaths. However, these figures do not capture fully the number of deaths and should be referenced with caution, as they are subject to upward revisions as late registrations are made.

There is a significant time lag in reporting on deaths by suicide due to the length of time to Coronial investigative process can take, with many such deaths registered later than the 22-month deadline for CSO annual publications. As such, annual figures are subject to change, and care should always be taken when referencing statistics or comparing across time.

The National Self-Harm Registry Ireland records and reports information about self-harm presentations to hospital Emergency Departments across the country. The Registry is operated by the National Suicide Research Foundation (NSRF) and is funded by the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP). It was the first such Registry in the world. Broadly speaking, self-harm rates are stable year on year, and there has been a decline in recent years. The rate of individuals presenting to hospital following self-harm in 2022 was 197 per 100,000, and 191 per 100,000 in 2023, with these rates being similar to the rate reported in 2021.

Suicide reduction policy in Ireland

Permanent improvements to suicide prevention under Connecting for Life included:

• enhanced bereavement and crisis support services, including culturally appropriate services for Travellers
• enhanced community level responses to suicide, through local action plans and the network of Resource Officers for Suicide Prevention (ROSPs)
• establishment of a National Probable Suicide Monitoring System
• development of a Model of Care to manage self-harm presentations to Emergency Departments, through the National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide-related Ideation (NCPSHSI)
• enhanced provision of training programmes, including a bespoke online course, Let’s Talk About Suicide rolled out in agencies such as An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and to school staff through the Department of Education
• national stigma reduction activities
• media monitoring activities to ensure safer media reporting of suicide and contribution towards online safety regulation
• a framework for agencies on preventing suicide in public places
• development and implementation of a Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework for Higher Education Institutions

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.

Support is always available

If you, or someone you know needs support, visit www.yourmentalhealth.ie – for information on how to mind your mental health, support others, or to find a support service in your area.

You can get help through:

• Samaritans on 116 123
• text HELLO to 50808 anytime day or night (24/7) to text with a trained listening volunteer (textaboutit.ie)
• Pieta House on 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444
• your GP
• Emergency Department
• HSE Mental Health Services
• yourmentalhealth.ie or telephone information line 1800 111 888 - anytime day or night, for information on mental health services in your area. Mental health supports and services - HSE.ie
• Samaritans on 116 123
• Pieta House on 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444

Media reporting

When covering the topic of suicide, the HSE recommends that media adhere to the Samaritans Ireland Media Guidelines for Reporting Suicide - research evidence shows that certain types of media depictions, such as explicitly describing a method, sensational and excessive reporting, can lead to imitational suicidal behaviour among vulnerable people.

The topic of suicide should always be approached with care and compassion. It is important to use sensitive and non-stigmatising language when engaging in a conversation, talking or writing about suicide. Read more from the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention.

Free suicide prevention training from the HSE

For more information on suicide prevention training programmes available from the HSE, visit www.nosp.ie/training.

Access ‘Let’s Talk About Suicide’ – a free online suicide prevention training programme from the HSE NOSP.