Ireland’s Strategy to Reduce Suicide and Self-harm, Connecting for Life: 2026–2035

This webpage contains information or content relating to suicide and/or self-harm, that some people could find challenging. For example;

• You could find it upsetting or disturbing
• You could overly identify with it - personally or professionally
• It might have a negative impact on you in other ways.

With this in mind, it is advised that you:

• Are mindful and aware of your own needs and self-care in this space
• Take a break at any point you feel you need to

If you are concerned about your mental health or that of someone you know, please access the HSE website www.yourmentalhealth.ie.This website is a ‘one-stop-shop’ portal for people seeking information on trusted mental health supports and services, including information on accessing urgent help.

Ireland’s Strategy to Reduce Suicide and Self-harm: Connecting for Life 2026–2035 sets out Ireland’s national approach to reducing suicide and self-harm over the next decade, building on previous national suicide and self-harm reduction strategies, including Reach Out (2005–2014) and Connecting for Life (2015–2024).

The strategy aims to deliver a sustained reduction in suicide and self-harm and to ensure that people have access to timely, compassionate, and effective supports.

It sets a national target to reduce the suicide rate to 7 per 100,000 or lower by 2035 and adopts a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.

The strategy is structured around five domains:

1. Preventing suicide and self-harm, reducing stigma and addressing social determinants
2. Restricting access to means and methods
3. Implementing effective responses for people in suicidal distress or with experience of self-harm
4. Ensuring compassionate, coordinated and accessible postvention support
5. Establishing evidence, surveillance systems and supporting structures

The strategy was developed during 2025–2026 through a structured and evidence-informed process.

As part of this process, a public consultation survey was conducted, receiving 1,895 responses. Alongside the public consultation survey, 7 live consultation sessions were carried out, either in person or online, which provided a forum for over 200 people with lived experience, professionals and policy makers to share their views and experiences.

Some standalone submissions were received during the consultation process. These were analysed and a synthesis was produced.

The following reports were compiled on the consultation survey, the live consultation sessions, and the standalone submissions, on behalf of the Department of Health:

An evidence synthesis was also commissioned by the Department of Health to ensure that the development of the strategy was informed by the most up to date evidence on suicide and self-harm reduction. The report of this evidence synthesis can be accessed at the following link:

An Expert Advisory Group was established to develop recommendations for the new strategy. This expert group, comprised of 22 members representing clinical, academic, policy, and community sectors worked closely with a Lived Experience Reference Group to ensure that lived experience was central to the development of the strategy.

Reflecting the whole-of-government approach to suicide and self-harm reduction adopted in ‘Ireland’s Strategy to Reduce Suicide and Self-harm: Connecting for Life 2026-2035’ there was extensive engagement with all government departments on the development of the recommendations within this strategy.

The governance arrangements establish a clear structure to oversee and deliver the strategy across Government and the health system.

Overall responsibility sits with Cabinet, through the Minister for Health and the Minister for Mental Health, ensuring that suicide prevention is treated as a whole-of-government priority.

At national level, implementation will be overseen by a National Steering and Implementation Monitoring Group, chaired by the Department of Health. This group will track progress, address challenges, and guide delivery. Its work will be supported by a Lived Experience Reference Group and specialist sub-groups, while the Interdepartmental Mental Health Steering Group will ensure coordination across Government and alignment with wider mental health policies.

The HSE, through the National Office for Suicide Prevention, will play a central role in coordinating delivery, supporting implementation, and managing monitoring arrangements.

Delivery will also take place at regional and local level. Six regional implementation structures will be established, each with its own plan and monitoring group, supported by local sub-groups that include lived experience representation and link to existing community structures.

The strategy will be delivered in phases through three implementation plans covering the period 2026 to 2035:

• 2026–2028
• 2029–2032
• 2033–2035

Progress will be monitored through a structured reporting system, with regular updates from lead agencies, published progress reports, and independent evaluations. This will support transparency, accountability and continuous improvement over the lifetime of the strategy.

Overall, the governance model combines strong national oversight with coordinated delivery across Government, the health system and local structures. These governance and implementation structures will be established in the early phase of the strategy to support its rollout.

• Connecting for Life: Ireland’s National Strategy to Reduce Suicide 2015 - 2024
• Evaluation of the Implementation and Intermediate Outcomes of ‘Connecting for Life’ - Ireland’s National Strategy to Reduce Suicide
• Expert Advisory Group – Next National Suicide and Self-Harm Reduction Strategy

The Department of Health reminds people that suicide is a very sensitive subject. Some people may find this topic upsetting. We ask that people are mindful of this before taking the survey, or while answering questions.

If you are concerned about your mental health or that of someone you know, please access the HSE website www.yourmentalhealth.ie. This website is a ‘one-stop-shop’ portal for people seeking information on trusted mental health supports and services, including information on accessing urgent help.