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	The HSE&rsquo;s National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) and the Health Promotion Department Dublin North East has developed a unique suicide prevention training programme STOP (Suicide Training Overview for Prisons)specifically tailored for Irish Prison Service (IPS) staff.<br />
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	Prisoners are a key vulnerable group for HSE NOSP suicide prevention efforts as research consistently shows prisoners to be at high risk of mental health problems, self harm and suicide.&nbsp; The HSE has been working in partnership with the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) and the Irish Prison Service to deliver suicide prevention and mental health training to those Prison Services staffwho come into contact with prisoners on a regular basis.<br />
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	The HSE has worked with the Irish Prison Service Training &amp; Development Centre in Portlaoise and the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) to develop a skills based suicide prevention training programme to meet the training needs of prison service staff in this area.<br />
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	Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Older People, Equality &amp; Mental Health, Kathleen Lynch, TD said &lsquo;The other key benefit of the STOP programme is that the skills that the Prison service staff develop as part of the training are not only of use in the Prisons but will also benefit the Prison Officers in their own personal lives with family, friends and colleagues.&nbsp; This Programme is another important step in delivering on The National Strategy for Action on Suicide&lsquo;Reach Out&rsquo; which recommends the development and delivery of training on suicide prevention for staff from the Irish Prison Service (IPS).&rsquo;<br />
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	Susan Kenny, HSE NOSP commented &lsquo;it is important that this training programme is successful in upskilling staff to respond to suicidal behaviour as Prisoners are at higher risk of developing mental health problems and are at higher risk of self harm and suicide compared to the general population.&rsquo;&nbsp; Susan also added that the programme represented only one initiative that the NOSP are implementing to reduce suicidal behaviour among vulnerable groups in Ireland.<br />
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	The STOP programme has been delivered to staff from eight prisons in Irelandand will be rolled out to all prisons throughout the Country in 2012.</p>
