Our advocacy

Pieta campaign, work with government, and help shape policy to make a safer and more supportive Ireland for people affected by suicide and self-harm.

We are urging the government and policymakers to prioritise investment in suicide and self-harm prevention services.

Pieta has outlined three key advocacy goals to ensure the sustainability of services, reduce wait times for vulnerable groups, and strengthen the national response to suicide and self-harm:

1. Sustainable, multi-annual funding for suicide prevention services
   Pieta calls on the government to provide €3.5 million in secure, sustainable, multi-annual funding to support its life-saving services beyond 2025. This aligns with the recommendations from the Independent Review Group (IRG Report) and Action 14 of Sharing the Vision, Ireland’s national mental health policy. The funding will ensure that non-statutory services like Pieta continue contributing towards the goals of Connecting for Life and other national policies.

2. Investment in suicide and self-harm prevention services for under 25s
   No young person should have to wait for urgent care in a time of crisis. Pieta is seeking €1.4 million to support suicide prevention services for those under 25 across Ireland. In 2022, 60% of Pieta’s clients were under the age of 25, with suicide being the leading cause of death among 15-34-year-olds in Ireland. Young people are particularly vulnerable, and immediate, coordinated care is essential to prevent tragedy.

3. Appoint a dedicated minister for mental health and suicide prevention
   Pieta is calling for the government to appoint a Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. This appointment would demonstrate a focused commitment to addressing the mental health crisis in Ireland, with particular emphasis on suicide prevention

• In 2023, Pieta provided over 50,000 hours of intervention and bereavement counselling and received around 100,000 crisis calls and texts via its 24/7 helpline.

• 40% of clients in 2023 were under the age of 18, with 60% under 25, reflecting the growing need for young-people-focused mental health services.

• Suicide remains the leading cause of death for individuals aged 15-34 years in Ireland, highlighting the urgent need for intervention.

• Pieta currently operates on an annual budget of €17 million, with 85% of its funding coming from public donations. While Pieta does receive limited funding from the HSE, it is not enough to meet the demand for its services.

• 504 suicides were recorded in Ireland in 2020 (CSO), with 366 men and 138 women.

• Suicide is a growing issue for women, with the percentage of female suicides increasing by 8.6 percentage points since 2012.

• Three out of every four suicides in Ireland are men, underlining the need for targeted interventions for this group.

• Suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 25, accounting for 22% of all deaths in this age group.

There is a considerable demand for suicide and self-harm prevention services in Ireland, but without increased government funding, Pieta cannot guarantee that we can continue to meet this need. Public donations have been incredibly generous, but they alone cannot ensure the long-term sustainability of our services. We need the government to take meaningful action to ensure that everyone who needs help can get it.