Meeting 20

Action Points

Present: Tim Linehan, Declan Costello, Dr Paul Corcoran, Niall McTernan, Prof Ella Arensman, Barry Kestell, Sean O'Connor, Dr Cróna Gallagher, Suzi Lyons, Feargal McCauley, Chief Superintendent Aidan Minnock, Aisling O'Reilly
Apologies: Dr Mary Flanagan, Prof Philip Dodd, Jackie Hickey, John O'Connor
Action Points: Niall McTernan

Tim initiated the meeting and thanked everyone for their attendance.
Chief Superintendent Aidan Minnock joined the meeting to provide an update on the An Garda Síochána initiative on classifying and redefining probable/suspected deaths by suicide.
Feargal McCauley from the Garda Síochána Analysis Service Section joined the meeting in place of Laura Galligan, who will return from maternity leave in early 2024.
The group welcomed Aisling O'Reilly from the Central Statistics Office.

Tim reviewed the minutes and action points from the previous group meeting held on October 25th, 2023.
CSO currently preparing for conversion to ICD-11 and will likely use IRIS software.
Ella indicated that a tender to conduct an evaluation and verify feasibility of the Suicide and Self-Harm Observatory is being prepared for the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention.

Chief Superintendent Minnock indicated that policy updates, controls and communications are still under review.
Referring to the policy on the recording of suicides, Chief Superintendent Minnock stated that 'self-inflicted death' will replace suicide, removing motive. The policy is to be drafted later in 2024.
Dr Gallagher queried when categories are assigned. Chief Superintendent Minnock responded on the first day but it can be changed daily. Death must be entered into a category which can be changed and reclassified based on information. Previously deaths would have been entered as 'sudden' and remained this way.
Ella queried if there is a distinction between confirmed and probable self-inflicted deaths and if screening criteria is to be used, with training and standardisation.
HSE NOSP to review policy before implementation. Group members will also be invited to provide feedback.

2023 release published on November 14th, Sean provided an overview of findings.
Focus on late registered deaths.
New table outlining revised cause of death statistics.
Ella and Paul welcomed and thanked the CSO for the collaborative approach to summary.
2024 release to be published around the same time later this year. Tim to update group on progress.

Paul gave an overview of an NSRF/HSE NOSP collaborative study examining probable suicide deaths among mental health service users in Ireland.
32-42% of deaths by suicide involve mental health service users, making this cohort the highest priority group for suicide prevention.
Psychiatric profile very similar between the UK and Ireland.
Current data not sufficient to detail risk profile and identify opportunities for prevention. Requires purposeful collection of comprehensive information in line with UK.
Next step – feasibility study to establish a national patient register in Ireland.
Dr Gallagher indicated that coroner files have all of the information required, however these are not on a database.
Dr Gallagher queried if current data are based on HSE records. Paul stated that data is retrieved from a range of sources including HSE funded mental health services. Based on anecdotal evidence, Dr Gallagher stated that she would expect higher engagement with mental health services than specified.
Ella stated that the HSE Inpatient register may be helpful.
Suzi suggested linkage with IPSDS dataset.

Observatory providing data and facilitating suicide prevention initiatives in three locations in Cork/Kerry, and facilitating case study site selection for HSE NOSP toolkit for preventing suicide in public places.

April 10th, 2024 at 2pm, via zoom.

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