CSO Suicide Mortality Statistics Liaison Group Meeting
Via Zoom
Wednesday April 10th, 2024 at 2pm
Action Points
Present: Tim Linehan, Prof Philip Dodd, Dr Paul Corcoran, Niall McTernan, Prof Ella Arensman, Barry Kestell, Sean O’Connor, Suzi Lyons, Alice Wainwright, Laura Galligan, John Heslin
Apologies: Dr Mary Flanagan, Jackie Hickey, John O’Connor, Declan Costello, Dr Cróna Gallagher, Aisling O’Reilly
Action Points: Niall McTernan
Welcome/Introductions
- Niall initiated the meeting and welcomed John Heslin from the Department of Health Statistics and Analytics Unit to the group.
- The group congratulated and welcomed back Laura Galligan and Alice Wainwright.
Action points and matters arising from the meeting held on January 17th, 2024
- Tim reviewed the minutes and action points from the previous group meeting held on January 17th, 2024.
- Ella indicated that a tender to conduct an independent evaluation and verify feasibility of the Suicide and Self-Harm Observatory in Cork and Kerry has been published by the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention – deadline April 26th, 2024.
- Philip invited the group to share the tender with their networks.
- Tim stated that it was great to have this system in place.
- Laura stated that Chief Superintendent Minnock will provide an update on the An Garda Síochána initiative on classifying and redefining probable/suspected deaths by suicide later this year.
- Tim indicated that the CSO Summary of Suicide Statistics annual release 2024 would follow a similar format of previous years and invited feedback from the group in relation to content and format.
- Philip stated that it was important to explore data linkage and offered support to Tim and colleagues on the annual release.
- Tim invited the Department of Health to submit any potential areas of interest/integration of data to the CSO for consideration.
Action points:
- Niall and Philip to meet with John re. past projects and aims of group.
- Department of Health to submit any potential areas of interest/integration of data to the CSO for consideration.
CSO's Vital Stats Quarterly Report Q3 2023
- Sean provided an overview of the CSO's Vital Stats Quarterly Report for Q3 2023.
- Ella queried if all external causes and deaths were considered.
- Paul queried lower than usual deaths in Q3. Sean indicated that this is due to a lag and late registered deaths.
- Paul suggested that the CSO be mindful of media coverage pertaining to show a decrease when numbers are not finalised. Tim acknowledged this and stated it was due to a move from fixed to rolling tables.
Irish suicide statistics with Eurostat and the WHO
- Paul queried international protocols related to the publication of suicide statistics, and the possibility of adding late registered deaths.
- Tim indicated that the CSO prepare data for Eurostat on an annual basis. Sean added that this included detailed cause of death data.
- CSO to consider raising issue with Eurostat.
- Ella stated that the WHO are unlikely to revise figures, and favour including notes to outline changes. Ella suggested links to relevant Irish websites if such notes were an option.
- Philip provided an overview the 2027 EU Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) which will focus on mental health. Department of Health to invite group feedback on this.
- Philip highlighted the National Suicide Research Foundation’s designation as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Surveillance and Research in Suicide Prevention for another four years.
Action points:
- CSO to consider raising late registered deaths with Eurostat.
- Barry to invite feedback re. Eurostat Survey Module proposed items.
- Niall to share NSRF WHO Collaborating Centre Press release when finalised.
Maternal suicide deaths
- Paul gave an overview of recent maternal suicide deaths – leading cause of death during pregnancy and up to one year afterwards.
- Data linkage work discussed including accessing data from the National Maternal Death Enquiry.
- Ella stated that trends are going up among this cohort rather than down.
- Philip expressed a wish to understand the data in more detail.
Action points:
- Paul and Tim to liaise with senior management re. access to data request.
- Philip and Paul to meet to discuss risk profile and identify suicide prevention initiatives for this cohort.
AOB
- Philip queried if there has been any finalisation of census questions.
- Tim to enquire with census colleagues at CSO.
Action points:
- Tim to establish if Census questions have been finalised.
Date and venue for next meeting: June 26th, 2024, at 2pm, via Microsoft teams.
