1/ Some observations on the NI suicide numbers in the Surgeon General's report which was reported on yesterday. As always, we remember that these numbers represent real lives & preventable suffering. It is important that the facts are reported. 2/ The numbers reported are deaths registered in 2023, this doesn't mean that the deaths occurred in 2023. The numbers registered in any year are impacted by operational issues & coronial procedures; delays can happen for many reasons.

@LeeWebster77 @skydavidblevins Good point. I doubt whether it would be safe to run a test in Feb. Many will be self isolating. Data shows that many children are more anxious now, its difficult to perform well in those conditions. The result of the test is not certain. So postponement=more uncertainty. 1/7 @LeeWebster77 @skydavidblevins Data also shows that it is the children who live in poverty who have the greatest risk of poor mental health as a result of the pandemic. The children who are disappointed about not sitting this test may not be in this group and so lower risk generally 2/7

1/ Prepping for tonight's @ViewFrmStormont on #MentalHealth & young people. As this report from #CoSpace study shows, most young people are doing v-well. Some groups appear to be at higher risk & the pandemic has amplified the effects of poverty.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl… 2/ but as this recent study by @suicideresearch shows, young people more likely to be impacted by loneliness & suicidal thoughts than older people.

cambridge.org/core/journals/…

1. Today I asked a group of women in Hydebank what advice they would give to us, as we face into a few of weeks of restrictions on our freedoms.

The answers - we need to get on with it. There’s nothing we can do about it. Make the best of it. 2. What helps them cope? the simple things, kindness, being treated with respect, as human, being able to put on lipstick & your own clothes.

Some have been unable to see their families in person since March. Screens aren’t the same for children...

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.