Connecting for Life will play important part in health plan
By Mary Dennehy
SOUTH Dublin County Council will work with the HSE to help “develop, implement and complement” the Connecting for Life Dublin South Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2018 – 2020.
In last week’s council chambers, local representatives discussed the South Dublin action plan, which is a local plan based on the vision, goals and objectives in Connecting for Life – Ireland’s National Strategy to Reduce Suicide 2015 – 2020.
The Action Plan was discussed at the monthly council meeting
According to Connecting for Life, suicide prevention is “everybody’s concern” – with the strategy aiming to focus on the creation of “connections” – primarily ‘connected services’ that can result in “more people getting the right help at the right time in the right place”.
At Monday’s April 9 council meeting, Mayor Paul Gogarty asked council management to report on its interactions with the HSE to develop, implement and complement the strategy locally.
The Lucan councillor also asked council management to outline how improvements can be made towards a more integrated, co-operative and effective approach.
In its reply, the council said that it is working with relevant stakeholders, such as the HSE, TUSLA and the South Dublin CYPSC (Children and Young People’s Services Committee) on a Child and Youth mental Health Working Group.
Mental Health
The overall purpose of this group is to ensure that the mental health and well-being of children and young people in South Dublin will be improved and that all children and young people will be able to access appropriate mental health care supports when they require.
It is also working towards ensuring that services and professionals will have the capacity, knowledge and skills to intervene appropriately with children and young people.
According to the council: “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 council also stressed that Connecting for Life will play an important part in the local Healthy Ireland Strategic Plan for South Dublin – with workshops being held last month on physical activity, sexual health, mental health, drugs and alcohol, healthy weight and tobacco.
According to the council, the Healthy Ireland Strategy will provide a framework for pursuing activities relating to health and well-being in South Dublin over the coming year.
The council added: “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.”
Visit www.sdcc.ie to read the Connecting for Life South Dublin document.
