CSO Suicide Mortality Statistics Liaison Group Meeting
Via Zoom
Wednesday April 23rd, 2025, at 2pm
Action Points
Present: Tim Linehan, Niall McTernan, Barry Kestell, Sean O’Connor, Alice Wainwright, John O’Connor, Dr Paul Corcoran, Prof Philip Dodd, Dr Suzi Lyons
Apologies: John Heslin, Dr Cróna Gallagher, Prof Ella Arensman, Dr Mary Flannagan, Jackie Hickey, Aisling O’Reilly, Dr Greg Martin
Action Points: Niall McTernan
Welcome/Introductions
- Niall welcomed Fergal O’Brien from An Garda Síochána Analysis Service and Lisa Murphy from the Department of Health.
Action points and matters arising from the meeting held on January 22nd, 2025.
- Tim reviewed the minutes and action points from the previous group meeting held on January 22nd, 2025.
- National Maternal Death Enquiry briefing shared in February.
- Tim indicated that the CSO would facilitate the dissemination of minutes on the liaison group section of the CSO website, subsequent to approval from group members.
- Following a query from Philip relating to retrospective minutes Niall indicated that minutes up to April 2022 can be accessed here: https://www.cso.ie/en/aboutus/lgdp/cgt/ocg/csogroups/smslg/
Action points:
- CSO to upload group minutes to website
Update on the public consultation for the new suicide reduction strategy
- Barry provided an overview of the public consultation for the new suicide reduction strategy
- 1800 responses received between March 7th and April 7th.
- NSRF assisting with analysis.
- Five central themes: (1) Mental Health Service Delivery (2) Training (3) Individual risk factors (4) Broader societal factors including housing and deprivation (5) Postvention
- Connecting for Life Evaluation report expected by June 2025
- Draft policy to be developed by July 2025 with a launch by the end of 2025 including implementation and monitoring structures
- Philip referenced an evidence synthesis review and a focus on a public health approach to suicide prevention.
- Philip alluded to the need to enhance data and surveillance around self-harm and referred to the importance of CSO data to monitor suicide.
- Tim indicated that the CSO would welcome suggestions for this year’s annual release.
CSO update on changes to death registration and mortality data
- Tim and Sean referred to recent changes to death registration and mortality data.
- Philip suggested that county-based data is helpful for local area action plans.
- Sean indicated it may be possible to provide smaller geographical areas and queried spatial boundaries.
- Suzi stated the new HRB Drug Related Deaths Index includes residence and were the individual died, captured in all cases apart from individuals who are homeless.
- Tim queried methods for more timely reporting and suggested the use of auxiliary data for indicators of death. Group to kept aware of progress.
- Paul referred to a previous CSO collaboration with the Garda Pulse system which identified that 85% of suicides classified by Gardai corresponded with CSO classification – may have potential for timely data.
- Tim indicated that it would be possible to explore if this was feasible subsequent to the consideration of the CSO Director General.
Action points:
- Philip to share new HSE health boundaries.
- Suzi to provide overview of new HRB Drug Related Death Index at future meeting.
- Niall to seek update on the proposed changes of categories to record suicide deaths on the Pulse System of An Garda Siochana.
AOB
- Tim provided an update on behalf of Ella Arensman (NSRF).
- Review of the Suicide Observatory Pilot Study in Cork is in its final phase
- Suicide Observatory in Kerry – At the recommendation of the Minister for Justice, the three Coronial districts: North, West and South/East, have been integrated into one Coronial district.
- In June 2024, safety signs, including the number of the Samaritans and a specific design, were put in place at all strategic waterways in Cork City where the Observatory had identified an ongoing high number of suicide cases. Based on real-time suicide data over the past 10 months, the number of probable suicides involving drowning, has decreased significantly, compared to the average number of cases over the past five years. These are preliminary findings, and ongoing monitoring will be conducted to verify if this is an ongoing trend.
- Niall provided an update on behalf of Jackie Hickey (GRO).
- GRO continues to engage with the HSE on the project to get early notification of deaths to GRO via the eHealth Office. Update to be provided when the timeline for delivery is known.
- Alice referred to a CSO data request related to the Evaluation of the Observatory. CSO happy to accommodate.
- Niall indicated that Dr Gemma Cox will present results from the Evaluation of Connecting for Life at the next meeting. Dr Greg Martin will also provide an overview of a proposed National Surveillance System/platform.
Action points:
- GRO to provide update on early notification of deaths project at next meeting.
Date and venue for next meeting: July 16th, 2025, at 2pm, via Microsoft teams.
