CSO Suicide Mortality Statistics Liaison Group Meeting
Via Zoom
Wednesday October 23rd, 2024, at 2pm
Action Points
Present: Tim Linehan, Prof Philip Dodd, Niall McTernan, Prof Ella Arensman, Barry Kestell, Sean O’Connor, Alice Wainwright, Laura Galligan, John Heslin, Dr Cróna Gallagher, John O’Connor
Apologies: Dr Mary Flannagan, Jackie Hickey, Declan Costello, Dr Paul Corcoran, Suzi Lyons, Aisling O’Reilly
Action Points: Niall McTernan
Welcome/Introductions
- Tim and Niall welcomed group members to the fourth and final meeting of 2024.
Action points and matters arising from the meeting held on July 10th, 2024.
- Tim reviewed the minutes and action points from the previous group meeting held on July 10th, 2024.
- See item three for CSO Data Linkage update.
- Laura indicated that GISC does not record any data on pregnancy or one-year post-partum. Challenging to request such information.
- Paul to provide an update at next meeting re. data from the National Maternal Death Enquiry.
- Ella suggested it may be beneficial to explore a real time surveillance system for maternal deaths.
- See item four for CSO Suicide Data Release update.
- Alice indicated that changes in legislation are impacting the number of coroners with a number of temporary contracts in place, however, this is unlikely to have an impact on CSO reporting
- Crona indicated that they are advising of a two year wait for inquest on average in the Dublin District only but that this is not related to the number of coroners in place at the moment.
Action points:
- Paul to provide an update at next meeting re. data from the National Maternal Death Enquiry.
CSO Data Linkage Update
- Tim and Philip provided an update on a further meeting between the CSO, the Department of Health, the HRB and the NSRF to identify opportunities for data linkage including with the National Self-Harm Registry Ireland and the National Drug-Related Deaths Index.
- Discussions at an early exploratory stage.
CSO Suicide Data Release (2023)
- Tim and Sean provided an update on the CSO Vital Statistics Yearly Summary for 2023. Publication scheduled for Monday November 25th. Revised deaths tables introduced last year, in addition to county breakdown.
- Tim invited feedback on the 2023 release particularly around messaging and sensitivities.
- Ella urged caution around reporting specific methods.
Action points:
- CSO to share yearly release for group feedback
AOB
- Philip indicated that the HSE NOSP- An Garda Síochána Data Sharing Agreement relating to real time Pulse data is progressing and close to completion.
- Tim informed the group that the CSO annual report will be published on Thursday October 31st.
- Meeting dates for 2025 confirmed.
Date and venue for next meeting: January 22nd, 2025, at 2pm, via Microsoft teams.
