The families of suicide victims from Co Wexford will meet Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in the Dáil today to discuss the implementation of improved psychiatric services for those experiencing mental health difficulties.
Barry Grace is to lead the newly-formed suicide action group called 24/7. He lost his family in August 2005 when his wife Sharon drowned herself and their two daughters, Mikahla, aged four, and Abby, aged five, off Kaats Strand in Wexford.
Before their deaths, Mrs Grace had sought the help of a social worker but was told that social care services were only available Monday to Friday. In the aftermath of their deaths, a number of concerns were raised relating to shortcomings in the mental health system.
The group is seeking a 24-hour psychiatric service for people who may be suicidal or experiencing mental health difficulties. It is also making submissions to the Dáil, seeking a psychiatric professional to liaise with families and, in some cases, members of the Garda.
"People are dying needlessly and suicide figures are rapidly increasing. We are calling on the Government to put adequate services in place, and not just nine-to-five services for those in need of help," Mr Grace said yesterday.
24/7 was also founded by Mary Dunne, whose son Adrian killed himself after taking the lives of his wife Ciara and two young daughters in Monageer, Wexford, last April.
According to Mr Grace, all members of 24/7 have been affected by suicide and today's meeting is to gather support from political parties and to highlight the need for educating people and encouraging open discussion on suicide.
"The Government, through effective safety campaigns, has managed to bring down the number of road fatalities. All we ask is that they put more money and resources into the silent killer that is suicide," he continued.
Although 24/7 is primarily concentrating on improved psychiatric services in Wexford, in time the group aims to raise nationwide awareness of suicide prevention strategies and will be making presentations on the issue over the coming months.