THE stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide is extremely damaging and must be urgently addressed.
That’s according to Fine Gael TD and President of the Irish Association of Suicidology, Dan Neville.
Deputy Neville was speaking at the Seminar on Suicide in Ireland, hosted by the Viktor Frankl Institute of Ireland at the European Parliament Buildings in Dublin.
“The stigma regarding mental health and suicide is often subtle, but extremely damaging and is deeply ingrained in Irish society,
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“While there have been limited improvements in recent years, there is an urgent need to inform and educate society to understand issues around mental ill health and suicide.
“Stigma is extremely hurtful, causes prejudice, excludes and marginalises people, and, above all, it stops people giving help and being supportive.
It also stops families and those suffering from seeking help and support and limits the lobbying for the much needed services that have been badly neglected over the decades.
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