Urgent action now required to address Belfast suicides – Gerry Adams

A CROWD of over 500 people attending a vigil in West Belfast on Thursday night, October 21st, supported calls for more action to tackle the rising tide of suicides throughout the city.
In the previous week, four young men had died by suicide in the greater west Belfast area, highlighting the crisis facing communities trying to come to grips with what is being seen as an epidemic.
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams was at the vigil and extended his deepest sympathies to the families of those who have died. He said that north and west Belfast have some of the highest rates of suicide on the island of Ireland.
“It is clear that whatever mechanisms or measures are in place to address suicide are not proving sufficient.
“We need to see an immediate transfer of resources to address this problem in order concentrate on the fact that young people are left feeling hopeless or in despair, bringing them to this point.”
Sinn Féin has made the direct call to Health Minister Michael McGimpsey
“My colleague, Sinn Féin MLA Jennifer McCann called for a meeting with the Health Minister Micheal McGimpsey on this very issue. He must now make this a priority.”