COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, April 09, 2018
MOTION NO.1
MOTION: Councillor P. Gogarty
That South Dublin Council reports on its interactions with the HSE to help develop, implement and complement the “Connecting for Life“ Dublin South Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2018-2020; to outline how improvements can be made in the future towards a more integrated and cooperative and thus effective approach; and if a statement can be made on the matter.
REPORT:
Connecting for Life Dublin South is a local suicide prevention action plan based on the same vision, goals, objectives and measurable outcomes as outlined in Connecting for Life, Ireland’s National Strategy to Reduce Suicide 2015 – 2020. Connecting for Life sets out a vision where fewer lives are lost through suicide, and where communities and individuals are empowered to improve their mental health and wellbeing. Details on the consultation for Connecting for Life Dublin South can be found here:
This is the link to the National Strategy: Connecting for Life, Ireland’s National Strategy to Reduce Suicide 2015-2020
Connecting for Life Dublin South is based on the same vision, goals, objectives and measurable outcomes as outlined in the national strategy, Connecting for Life, Ireland’s National Strategy to Reduce Suicide 2015-2020. Connecting for Life, sets out a vision where fewer lives are lost through suicide, and where communities and individuals are empowered to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
This vision is to be realised through seven goals:
- Better understanding of suicidal behaviour
- Supporting communities to prevent and respond to suicidal behaviour
- Targeted approaches for those vulnerable to suicide
- Improved access, consistency and integration of services
- Safe and high-quality services
- Reduce access to means
- Better data and research
SDCC is participating with relevant stakeholders including the HSE and TUSLA through the South Dublin CYPSC on a Child and Youth Mental Health Working Group.
The overall purpose of the South Dublin Child & Youth Mental Health Working Group is to ensure:
- The mental health and well-being of children and young people in South Dublin will be improved.
- All children and young people will be able to access appropriate mental health care supports when they require them.
- Services and professionals will have the capacity, knowledge and skills to intervene appropriately with children and young people
A number of meetings have already been held to share and gather information on the number and types of mental health initiatives taking place in South Dublin and to ensure that there is consistency of planning and messaging across organisations.
The South Dublin CYPSC is also working with the South Dublin Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) and Healthy South Dublin County committee under funding from Healthy Ireland to develop a South Dublin Health and Well-Being Strategy. It was noted that the broad health and well-being outcomes of Healthy Ireland tie in closely with the objectives of this sub-group. The plan is to reflect the national Healthy Ireland Framework, National policy objectives and related plans. It aims to meet locally identified needs and priorities of the general health population together with those that experience health inequalities outlined in the South Dublin Local Economic Community Plan (LECP) and forthcoming research from the South Dublin CYPSC and South Dublin Healthy Counties Committee. A presentation to the South Dublin County LCDC is also arranged for its meeting of 11th April 2018. The objective is to aunderstand and assess the Action Plan for how it complements actions within the Local Economic and Community Plan and whether there are actions that should be incorporated into the Plan as part of the annual review of the LECP, which will be considered at the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC). It is also appropriate to consider how Connecting for Life Dublin South relates to other strategies like the South Dublin County Joint Policing Committee Strategic Plan 2016-2022 and the Age Friendly County Strategy. The South Dublin Children and Young Peoples Services Committee, CYPSC, will also be considering the Action Plan in terms of the Children and Young People’s Plan of that committee.
As part of the development of the Healthy Ireland Strategy there were 6 innovative workshops held on Friday 23rd March. Three workshops (Physical Activity, Sexual Health and Mental Health) held in the morning and three workshops (Drugs &Alcohol, Health Weight and Tobacco) held in the afternoon. This strategy will provide the framework for pursuing activities relating to health and well-being in South Dublin over the coming year and Connecting for Life will be an important element of the project.
The aim of the Local Healthy Ireland Strategic Plan for South Dublin is to provide an evidence-based, inclusive, outcome focused, strategically aligned plan that is targeted at disadvantaged communities and other vulnerable groups that experience health inequalities, but also beneficial to the wider population. The development of the strategy will be collaborative and cross-sectoral in nature and include a health needs assessment.