HSE hosting suicide-prevention forum in Dublin
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is hosting a forum on suicide prevention in Dublin today.
The meeting is being attended by HSE officials as well as suicide awareness and support groups.
The issues being discussed include specialised training for professionals working in the area of suicide, as well as awareness programmes in schools.
Official figures show that around 500 deaths are recorded as suicide in Ireland every year, but campaigners believe the real number of people taking their own lives is considerably higher.
Up to 11,000 people are also believed to present themselves at accident and emergency departments across the country every year as a result of deliberate self-harm.
