Harney pledges to protect funding for mental health
Health Minister Mary Harney says she hopes to be able to protect funding for mental health in the forthcoming Budget.
A conference on suicide prevention has heard one in ten 14-16 year-olds has harmed themselves, half of those more than once.
A total of 527 people took their own lives last year, an increase of 103 on 2008.
Support groups say funding is abysmal and they fear that the high unemployment and financial worries will see the problem get worse.
“We have to continue to apply as many resources as possible into this area and that would be my commitment for next year,” said Harney.
