Last week's tragic deaths in three separate suicides - two of them being children - has led to separate calls for both greater support to suicide prevention and awareness groups and for a focussed Stormont Executive-led initiative to deal with the ongoing scourge

The SDLP Derry City Councillor Anne Donnelly has urged the NI Government to give a lead and said: "Unfortunately suicide is something that has affected most people at some point in their lives.

"It has left families and friends in our community in a terrible state of despair and has resulted in an awful feeling of hopelessness for many.

"Suicide awareness and prevention groups carry out a wonderful service within Derry but are currently stretched to their limits, in an uphill struggle to secure funding to educate people and provide counselling sessions for instance to those in need.

"At this time of financial austerity, I urge Government to prioritise funding for these groups and to give them the support that they desperately need to carry out this vital service within our community."

Also commenting, the Sinn Fein MLA for west Belfast Sue Ramsey has called for a focussed Executive-led initiative to deal with the ongoing scourge of suicide in the north and west Belfast areas.

Speaking on Monday, she said: "I attended another funeral in Twinbrook, (an area) where countless children and young people are profoundly affected by the tragic events that have taken place over recent days.

"Obviously our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends who are having to deal with these tragic circumstances," she said, noting that she would today lead a delegation of Sinn Fein councillors and community representatives in a meeting with the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to discuss the issue of suicide.

She said this followed his visit to the Colin area to engage directly with young people on the issues that affected them and what the Executive could do to act in relation to this matter.

"We need to wake up to the reality of this matter, young people are more and more seeing suicide as a resolution to their problems; we have to ensure that a cross-departmental response which focuses on direct intervention is put in place.

"We must see additional counsellors and intervention workers put into these areas to engage directly with young people, schools, youth and community groups need to continue to receive the necessary funding and training to help tackle these problems and the community must be supported and helped to be made aware of what signs to look for.

"There can be no quick-fix; all we can do is continue to take the time to sit down and talk directly with our children and young people, wherever it is they base themselves."

Last week, there was a double tragedy as two children in neighbouring housing estates in west Belfast killed themselves.

In unconnected incidents, Martin Rooney, 13, and 11-year-old Ciara Doherty died at their homes in Twinbrook and Mount Eagles. The news came as the funeral of Karen Cromie, who took her own life on a busy Belfast flyover last Friday, took place in Co Fermanagh.

The 31-year-old from Ballinamallard was found under the flyover on the main Bangor to Belfast road two weeks after she threatened to take her own life at the same place.

Ms Cromie - who was handicapped - took part in the Beijing Paralympic Games in 2008 and was a talented rower and worked at the Sports Institute at Jordanstown.

She lost the use of her legs after a fall while at university in Edinburgh several years ago.

(BMcC/KMcA)