Many people who present to hospital EDs following deliberate self-harm never receive proper follow-up care, it has been claimed.

The support group Console says the Government needs to provide the necessary resources to to give the care needed when people in crisis make the often difficult decision to seek support.

"What we need is a more targeted approach, training up frontline people to be able to identify those at risk and we need to rescue waiting lists so that people who are at risk can get the help they need," said Console CEO Paul Kelly.

"There is a very narrow window of opportunity to intervene when someone is struggling with suicidal thoughts. We need to be able to give them the care they need - be that inpatient or community-based, and we need to be able to give them that care straight away."

Mr Kelly will be one of the speakers at the 2013 Natonal Mental Health Conference, which will take place at the Newbridge Primary Care Centre in Co Kildare on November 13.