Suicide rate increases by nearly one quarter in ROI
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Suicide rate increases by nearly one quarter in
ROI
The number of suicides in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) has
increased by 24.3 per cent, representing the highest annual rise in
a decade, according to the country's Central Statistics Office
(CSO).
526 suicides were recorded in the Irish Republic in 2009,
compared to 424 the previous year. The figures also revealed a
further 195 deaths 'by undetermined intent', some of which may have
been suicides, according to the Irish Examiner.
Geoff Day, president of the National Office for Suicide
Prevention, recently told the newspaper that any increase in
suicides which brought the total annual regional figure to more
than 500 could be considered a "national disaster".
Commenting on the CSO statistics, he told the Examiner: "Of
particular concern is the fact that the main increase in suicides
is in the 25 to 44 year age group."
Mr Day added that the figures reflect international evidence
that suicide rates can increase during times of economic
recession.
This view is backed by Paul Kelly, head of the charity, Console
which offers support to the families of those who have taken their
own lives by suicide.
Mr Kelly told the Irish Examiner the figures were not surprising
and could rise further in 2010.
He said: "There has been a huge increase in the number of people
who are finding the impact of the downturn of the economy quite a
strain with job losses, financial worry, fear of house repossession
and marital strain.
"They feel a great sense of hopelessness and can't see a way
out."
Dan Neville, mental health spokesperson for Irish political
party Fine Gael, has called on the country's Executive, the Dáil
Éireann, to have an emergency debate on the issue of suicide
following the release of the CSO statistics.
He said: "The Government must recognise and respond to this
crisis, which requires an emergency response."
He, too, claimed that the tough economic climate may be a factor
in the rise, adding that the "sudden gap between material needs and
resources" increases people's frustrations and places them at a
higher risk of suicide.
The inflated levels of unemployment which accompany periods of
economic recession could also be a factor, according to Stephen
Platt, Samaritan's Trustee and professor of Health Policy Research
at the University of Edinburgh.
He said: "This is not only because more people become unemployed
and, as a result, more psychologically vulnerable, but also because
those in employment feel threatened too."
Research has shown people who are unemployed are at a two to
three times greater risk of death by suicide than those who are
employed.
Unemployment can also have an adverse effect on mental health,
contributing to conditions such as anxiety, depression, lowered
self-esteem and feelings of hopelessness, all of which can increase
risk of a person dying by suicide, according to the charity.
Samaritans is working closely with the UK government to develop
national suicide prevention strategies, and continues to provide
one-on-one support via its branches, telephone helpline and email
service to emotionally vulnerable people.
Samaritans
Samaritans is available nationwide to anyone experiencing
emotional distress or suicidal thoughts. They can be called for
support 24 hours a day on 08457 90 90 90 (UK) and 1850 60 90 90
(ROI), or emailed at jo@samaritans.org.
Face to face visits are also available – visit
http://www.samaritans.org/ for the nearest branch.
Sources
http://www.examiner.ie/home/recession-blamed-for-25-surge-in-suicides-123790.html
http://www.finegael.org/news/a/3325/article
http://www.samaritans.org/media_centre/latest_press_releases/samaritans_comment_ons_figures.aspx
http://www.samaritans.org/media_centre/latest_press_releases/samaritans_suicide_crisis.aspx
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