Departmental Data

Tuesday, 24 February 2026

Ceisteanna (1053)

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1053. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the State funded or HSE-funded training programmes which are currently available to general practitioners in the assessment and management of suicidal ideation and self-harm in children and adolescents; whether her Department or the HSE maintains data on GP participation in such training; the number of general practitioners who have completed suicide prevention training, including organisations (details supplied) or equivalent programmes in the past five years; whether the adequacy of GP training supports in managing child and adolescent suicidal presentations has been formally reviewed in view of pressures on CAMHS; and whether consideration is being given to the establishment of a formal specialist CAMHS consultation or advice line to support GPs managing high-risk youth presentations [14906/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention offers a comprehensive range of training programmes in relation to talking about suicide, understanding self-harm, and suicide intervention skills. Accordingly, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to the information requested regarding the relevant training programmes and in relation to the queries regarding CAHMS, as this is a service matter.

The Irish College of GPs (ICGP) is the postgraduate training body responsible for the training of GPs in Ireland, including training in relation to mental health, and it provides for the ongoing career development and education of GPs. It should be noted that while GPs can assess and treat some mental health difficulties, severe mental health issues require the services of dedicated specialist medical professionals; accordingly, patients may be referred by their GP as appropriate to a specialist such as a psychiatrist, psychologist or counsellor.