CSO Suicide Mortality Statistics Liaison Group Meeting
Via Microsoft Teams
Wednesday July 16th, 2025, at 2pm
Action Points
Present: Tim Linehan, Niall McTernan, Barry Kestell, Dr Paul Corcoran, Dr Suzi Lyons, Prof Ella Arensman, Aisling O’Reilly, Fergal O’Brien, Declan Costello, Hardeep Kapur, Laura Flannelly, Lisa Murphy
Apologies: Dr Cróna Gallagher, Dr Mary Flannagan, Jackie Hickey, Dr Greg Martin, Sean O’Connor, Alice Wainwright, John O’Connor, Prof Philip Dodd
Action Points: Niall McTernan
Welcome/Introductions
- Niall welcomed Laura Flannelly and Hardeep Kapur (Statistics and Analytics Service at the Department of Health), Lisa Murphy (also DoH) and Declan Costello (Department of Justice). Hardeep will join the group on behalf of the Statistics and Analytics Service at the DoH, replacing John Heslin who has moved to the Department of Further and Higher Education.
Action points and matters arising from the meeting held on April 23rd, 2025.
- Tim reviewed the minutes and action points from the previous group meeting held on April 23rd, 2025.
- Minutes since April 2022 and group membership to be updated on the CSO website in the coming weeks.
- Niall provided an update on the proposed changes of categories to record suicide deaths on the Pulse System of An Garda Siochana on behalf of Chief Superintendent Aidan Minnock:
- Pulse change is now under consideration after a delay due to the prioritisation of other changes. Meeting with IT arranged
- Guidance document to be developed to support changes
- Timeline to be provided in September
- Laura shared information on the new HSE health geographies which have been published on Tailte Éireann (attached)
- In relation to the early notification of deaths project Laura indicated that the Department of Health are meeting with the HSE next week to progress this initiative
- Ella referred to the minutes stating that 85% of suicides classified by Gardai corresponded with CSO classification and queried if this could be examined for more recent years
- Tim indicated that this may be possible via a mechanism in the vital statistics act, however this requires CSO Director General and ministerial approval.
Action points:
- CSO to upload group minutes to website
- Paul to follow up on comparison data between Gardai and CSO classification
Overview of HRB Drug Related Death Index (Dr Suzi Lyons)
- Suzi provided an overview of the new HRB Drug Related Death Index with a specific focus on place of residence and place of incidence. NDRDI has unique access to GMR data. Data related to were death occurred available since 2019
- Proxy aligned (where possible) for deaths in public places
- Provisional outcomes presented
- Ella queried if inpatient admissions were recorded. Suzi confirmed this was the case
- Suzi and Tim alluded to the importance of learning what data different organisations have
- Ella suggested that it would be helpful to prepare an overview of the different databases and how they overlap and differentiate for the next suicide reduction strategy
- Ella highlighted an increase in self-harm among children under 12 identified via the National Self-Harm Registry Ireland, specifically boys. Concern around highly lethal methods also noted
- Suzi referred to a rise in adolescents using drugs associated with psychotic episodes
Action points:
- Proposal for Suzi to present on another element of the data at next meeting. Specific requests to be sent to Suzi in advance
AOB
- Barry provided a further update on the public consultation for the new suicide reduction strategy
- First meeting of expert advisory group held in July
- New Lived Experience Reference Group established, and chairperson appointed.
- Laura and Hardeep noted that the Health Information Bill, with a focus on improved data linkage, went through Committee Stage today. Once enacted the Bill will mandate the collection of PPSN as standard across all healthcare settings — public, private, and voluntary
Date and venue for next meeting: October 29th, 2025, at 2pm, via Microsoft teams.
