The World Suicide Prevention Week Conference will open in Dublin this morning.

Hosts Console will introduce a range of expert speakers who will discuss issues such as the sociological reasons behind the high rate of suicide among men, parents bereaved by suicide and the need to promote responsible media coverage of suicide.

Ciaran Austin, Console's Director of Services, says the spend on mental health service must be maintained in next months budget.

Last week's report

Three reports were published last thursday by the National Office for Suicide Prevention, the National Suicide Research Foundation and the Suicide Support and Information System which looked at suicide rates here as well as the rate of self-harm.

It showed that while Ireland has the sixth lowest rate of suicide in the EU, we have the fourth highest youth suicide rate – especially among young men.

The reports also showed there were over 12 thousand cases of self-harm reported by hospitals across the country in 2012 - a drop of 2 percent on 2011.

Former construction workers are some of the groups most at risk while alcohol abuse in the main cause of suicide in men over 40.