Annual suicide figures released by the Central Statistics Office today show a welcome 23% fall in the number of suicides among young people, according to national suicide prevention and bereavement charity Console.
However, Ireland still has the fourth highest suicide rate in the EU in the 15-24 age group and Console is calling for a real-time register of suicide data so that resources can be targeted at areas to prevent clustering.
“The CSO’s provisional figures show 475 people died by suicide last year, a 6.3% drop on the numbers in 2012, but that includes a significant decrease in the number of young people taking their own lives,” said Console’s Director of Services Ciaran Austin.
“The numbers of deaths by suicide in the 15-24 category were 57 in 2013, showing a drop of almost 23% against the 2012 figure of 74.
“This continues a two-year trend which now shows a drop of 40% against the 2011 figure of 95 deaths.
“However, while the drop in deaths by suicide in this category is welcome, Ireland still has the fourth highest rate of suicide in the EU for this demographic, according to WHO figures, and this clearly needs more attention.
“Console are calling for a real-time register of suicide data to be kept so that we can act on timely and accurate statistics to put measures in place to prevent such phenomena as suicide clustering or contagion.”
Console also noted concern at a 25.58% rise in suicides in the 45-54 age group, from 86 people in 2012 to 108 in 2013.
“This would mirror a rise in calls to our 1800 247 247 helpline from people in this age category,” said Ciaran Austin.
“In particular, we saw a huge increase in calls to our rural helpline in 2013 due to the fodder crisis.
“The regional data in some areas is alarming in the CSO statistics with several counties recording rates of suicide well above the national average of 10.3 per 100,000 population.
“These include Cavan with 20.4 deaths by suicide per 100,000, Carlow (20.0), Kerry (19.4), Roscommon (18.6) and Wexford (15.7).
“When we look at the official suicide figures, we also examine those categorised as ‘events of undetermined intent’, and they have shown a 21% drop from 82 in 2012 to 65 in 2013.
“However, we need significant changes and investment in research as the lack of accurate up-to-date information is impeding our ability to understand and respond to the awful tragedy of suicide in a timely fashion.”
Nationwide professional suicide prevention and bereavement charity Console offers counselling services and 24-hour helpline support to people in crisis and those bereaved by suicide (Freephone 1800 247 247).
The charity has full-time counselling centres in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Wexford, Galway, Kerry and Mayo. It also offers services in Kildare and Athlone and has recently opened a service in London.
Counselling, advice and general support is available for any individual, couples, groups, families or children who have been affected by suicide.
Console can be reached at any time on freephone 1800 247 247 and many resources and useful information can be found at www.console.ie.
