Robin Swann rejects calls to declare public health emergency on suicide

Mr Swann also said it was “disappointing” that campaigners chose to hold a demonstration outside the Public Health Agency headquarters in Belfast “at a time when they are extremely busy working to protect us from coronavirus”.

Families bereaved by suicide held the demonstration in Belfast at lunchtime today to urge the minister to “wake up and smell the coffee” and declare a public health emergency.

Families from the ‘123 GP’ campaign are urging Mr Swann to double the funding available for counselling services and to introduce a waiting time target of 28 days for a counselling appointment.

The families’ calls have also been backed by leading figures from sport, music and the arts – including Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody, boxers Carl Frampton and Michael Conlan, and rugby player Andrew Trimble.

The stars signed an open letter to the minister in January which criticised an existing government strategy known as ‘Protect Life 2’ as “wholly inadequate”.

Today, the families delivered their message by handing out free cups of coffee to officials entering and leaving the headquarters of the Public Health Agency in Belfast.

But Mr Swann, in a statement to the News Letter, said now is “not the right time” to declare an emergency on suicide.

“Those calling for a public health emergency on suicide are right to highlight the issue as one of the biggest challenges facing our society and that urgent action is needed,” the minister said.

“However, declaring a public health emergency is not the answer.

“We need to fully implement Protect Life 2 and address at an Executive level the societal issues across Northern Ireland that influence the suicide rate. This is a societal issue, not simply a public health one.”