AQW 27644/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 17/12/2021
Answered On Date: 11/01/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health for an update on the work his Department is doing to reduce levels of self-harm and suicide, particularly in relation to people who have suffered childhood trauma.

Answer:

The Protect Life 2 Strategy contains a wide range of actions to reduce suicide and self-harm. These include Lifeline 24/7 helpline, self-harm support, training, counselling support, resilience building, awareness raising and public information campaigns, bereavement support, work with other Departments and initiatives such as Towards Zero Suicide and the Multi Agency Triage Team. The strategy clearly acknowledges that those who have experienced trauma and conflict have an increased suicide risk.

In the Western Area the Multiple Adverse Childhood Experience project aims to support families and communities which have experienced trauma in childhood. The project aims to develop techniques to better engage with children and consider methods to better deal with negative impacts of adverse childhood experiences.