A strategy aimed at helping to prevent suicides in Northern Ireland is due to be published next month, the health minister has said.

Bairbre de Brun was giving the opening address at the seventh annual conference of the Irish Association of Suicidology at the Europa Hotel, Belfast, on Saturday.

The theme of this year's conference is "Youth Suicide - the Challenge for Prevention".

Ms de Brun said suicide was a "very difficult and emotive subject" which left families devastated.

"It is therefore vital that we work together to identify the underlying factors that might contribute to these tragic deaths and tackle them," she said.

Bairbre de Brun: Committed to mental health strategy

She said the importance of promoting positive mental health had received widespread support from people responding to an Investing for Health consultation exercise.

"I am pleased to say that their comments together with earlier comments on the draft strategy for promoting mental and emotional health have been considered and that a revised mental health promotion strategy and action plan has now been completed.

"It is presently with my executive colleagues for their agreement and it is intended that this should be published next month."

That strategy includes a separate section on suicide prevention.

We in the executive are determined to create a more compassionate society

Bairbre de Brun Health Minister

"While no specific intervention has been found to be universally effective in preventing suicide, the strategy will stress the importance of promoting self-esteem, life and coping skills and working to increase social inclusion and participation," she said.

"Specific actions related to suicide include early identification of mental or emotional distress, immediate access to sources of support and help and support for individuals and families following a suicide."

The health minister said there had been four recent deaths from suicide in her west Belfast constituency.

"We in the executive are determined to create a more compassionate society by tackling the key determinants of health such as poverty, unemployment and social isolation," she added.

She said she was committed to the effective implementation of the strategy and hoped it would have a real impact on suicide.