Two recently published reports reflect the need for continued efforts to tackle the extensive and complex causes and risk factors of suicide and deliberate self-harm in the Republic of Ireland. These reports reflect findings from 2 IPH reports – ‘Facing the Challenge – The impact of the recession & unemployment on Men’s health in Ireland’ (2011) and IPH coordinated all-island report on the Young men and suicide project (2013). IPH recognises suicide and deliberate self harm as stark examples of inequalities in health across the island of Ireland.
The causes and risk factors are diverse and intersecting. The challenge of reducing suicide rates demands a very comprehensive and multi-layered response that seeks to intervene at a number of different levels and involves a range of key stakeholders.
The two new reports published in October 2015 are:
National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) Annual Report 2014
Some key points:
- Number of suicides in Ireland has returned to 2007 levels after a rise during the economic downturn
- 459 deaths by suicide in the Republic of Ireland in 2014, down from 475 in 2013
- Rate of suicide among men was more than four times than the rate among women
- Male suicide rate peaks among the 45-54 age group
- Female suicide is highest in the 24-34 age group
- The counties with the highest suicide rates were almost 4 times higher than those with the lowest rates
- Among 15-19 year olds, the rate was 10.5 per 100,000 of the population, the fourth highest rate in the age group across 31 European counties.
- In general the suicide rate is not high by international standards
National Self-Harm Registry Ireland (NSRF) Annual Report 2014
Some key points:
- 1 in 184 men aged 20-24 in Ireland presented to hospital as a consequence of self-harm in 2014
- Over 40% increase in number of hospital treated self-harm episodes among boys age 10-14 in Ireland
- 476 additional suicides associated with period of economic recession
- Rate of hospital recorded self-harm among males in Limerick 87% higher than the national average in 2014
- In 2014, 8,708 persons were recorded as presenting to hospital self-harm in Ireland
