The relatives say money is needed for counselling

There have been at least 15 suicides in west Belfast in the last three months, seven of which happened last week.

About 50 relatives of suicide victims gathered outside the North and West Belfast Health Trust Board meeting.

Two mothers given permission to address the board told members that money was needed for suicide prevention and counselling services.

Maura Barnes' daughter took her own life last August. She said counselling services were essential.

"I go to that once a week and I don't know what's going to happen if they take that away from me, so honestly please for God's sake, get the funding from somewhere - we need it," she said.

The board agreed to allow the families to interrupt the meeting

The trust told the families that they shared their concerns and promised that their demands would be treated seriously.

Last year, community groups in north Belfast appealed for action over an alarming rise in suicide among young people in the Ardoyne area.

In a two month period, at the start of last year, 13 young men in the area took their own lives.

Last month, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Nigel Williams, said the government must do more to reduce the number of child suicides in Northern Ireland.

At the start of April the first step on convening a multi-agency group on suicide in the area took place.

The North and West Belfast Health Action Zone said research has shown a higher rate of mental illness in the trust area than elsewhere in the province.