20/03/2008
Suicide Websites To Be Tackled: McGimpsey
The scourge of suicide - and more specifically, websites that 'promote' self-harm - are to be tackled in what the Assembly Health Minister has described as a 'joined-up approach'.
Following a meeting with the UK Health Minister, Ivan Lewis, in London, the NI Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said they had very positive discussions about suicide prevention.
He explained that he had been given a commitment from the Department of Health in England for the fullest co-operation on dealing with the issue and in taking action to prevent these websites promoting suicide.
The Minister met Doctor Tanya Byron who is taking forward a UK Government review on Internet sites that encourage suicide.
The Minister said today: "I have been very clear about the need to clamp-down on social networking sites which are being used to promote suicide among young people, not just in Northern Ireland, but throughout the UK and Ireland.
"There is a growing danger of copycat suicides linked to young people using the Internet, in particular social networking sites.
“During my meetings, I raised the need for governments to join forces and ensure that Internet providers take action to prevent these sites promoting suicide."
(BMcC)
Following a meeting with the UK Health Minister, Ivan Lewis, in London, the NI Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said they had very positive discussions about suicide prevention.
He explained that he had been given a commitment from the Department of Health in England for the fullest co-operation on dealing with the issue and in taking action to prevent these websites promoting suicide.
The Minister met Doctor Tanya Byron who is taking forward a UK Government review on Internet sites that encourage suicide.
The Minister said today: "I have been very clear about the need to clamp-down on social networking sites which are being used to promote suicide among young people, not just in Northern Ireland, but throughout the UK and Ireland.
"There is a growing danger of copycat suicides linked to young people using the Internet, in particular social networking sites.
“During my meetings, I raised the need for governments to join forces and ensure that Internet providers take action to prevent these sites promoting suicide."
(BMcC)
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