Health boards publish suicide study

Radio Telefs ireann (RT) is the Irish Public Service Broadcasting Organisation, November 22, 2001

A new national study on suicide has identified a need to improve men's skills in dealing with emotional problems and life crises. The study, commissioned by the country's health boards, found that mental health disorders, especially depression, are the highest risk factors for suicide. It said that young men, in particular, need help to improve their skills in dealing with emotional problems.

This latest study investigated the circumstances surrounding over 800 suicides which occurred in 1997 and 1998. In recent years, suicide has become the principal cause of death in men aged between 15 and 34 years, surpassing the number of deaths from road traffic accidents.

Data from coroners, Garda reports, doctors and families was used to detail the circumstances, five times more men died from suicide than women, and 40% of the deaths were men aged 30 or under.

The report said that the strong protective effect of marriage, as found in other studies, was confirmed in this research. Single, separated, divorced or widowed people had higher rates of suicide.

Depression remains the highest risk factor for suicide, almost a third of those treated as in-patients for mental illness died within three months of discharge. The research also found that relationship problems were the most common recent significant event prior to death.

Public health specialist, Dr Declan Bedford, said that men were less likely to seek help when depressed. The report recommended specific health strategies for men, and they needed greater encouragement in accessing health services.