To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail any outcomes following the recent meeting of the Ministerial Co-ordination Group on Suicide Prevention.

At the meeting of the Ministerial Co-ordination Group on Suicide Prevention held on 29 February, it was agreed that more use needs to be made of different datasets on suicide and self harm in Northern Ireland and that Public Health Agency, DHSSPS and other agencies should investigate how this information can be linked together.

It was also agreed the Public Health Agency would consider suicide awareness and intervention training needs of a wider range of individuals who deal with members of the public.

There was discussion around the need to respond to recent high levels of suicide in Belfast. It was agreed that existing suicide prevention practice in Belfast should be reviewed, including the learning from the implementation of the Community Response Plans. The Public Health Agency is to take this forward with local community groups and public services in the context of the development of a Belfast-wide suicide prevention implementation plan.

The Public Health Agency provided an update on progress of the Rivers / Foyle Bridge project to prevent suicide in this area and agreed to keep the Group informed of progress.

It was also agreed that the main action points from the meeting would be shared with members of the Suicide Strategy Implementation Body and the local Protect Life Implementation groups.