Thread by @profsiobhanon

1. The NI suicide rates are lower than we previously thought.

"Undetermined" deaths would traditionally have been included in the suicide statistics because they were viewed as probable suicides.

bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northe…

2. Those included drug-related deaths and the Coroner and NISRA analysed these deaths in detail last year. It was decided that the majority of those deaths were not probable suicides, and were more likely to be accidents.

3. When those deaths were taken out of our suicide rate last year, the number went down substantially (197), compared with previous years (where the figures were around 300). A similar process is being undertaken for 2015-18, it is likely that this will show a similar reduction.

4. This does not change the level of funding or effort that we put into reducing suicide.

We lost similar numbers of people to suicide and drugs last year both reflect human suffering trauma and mental illness.

5. We need to do everything that we can to ensure that people who use drugs, and people in suicidal crisis get access to timely evidenced based support. We must also work to reduce the inequalities that are also associated with issues.

6. I realise that this is no consolation to those who have lost loved ones to suicide or drugs. It changes nothing about the suffering & devastation. Our thoughts are with them today.

*Evidence-based *both (typing quickly).

@threadreaderapp unroll