Former President Clinton worries about Irish suicide numbers - VIDEO

People need to realise that they are of value because they were born and were given life. Unfortunately too many people measure their worth by reference to external measures whereas self worth comes from within. Recently I heard Oprah Winfrey comment that one constant she has encountered through the years is that people, of all classes and backgrounds, do not feel worthy to live the life they have been given. In Ireland the number of suicides is significant and certain age categories feature strongly. I do not think clinical depression is the root cause in most of these cases but a lack of hope. The message that each person is valued is not being transmitted strongly enough. In fact, in the case of young men, there is often a message to the contrary.

Love Clinton, in spite of his human frailties. C'mon Bill, use your contacts to put American bucks, businesses, & ethical banking into the Emerald Isle where we speak the same language and are respected, before it becomes a third world nation.

jfoynyc..I didn't say anything against Bill. I just stated an opinion to why they are depressed. I agree with breffnyblue.People need spirituality to fall back on, when the church and the government have made a mess of things.

Pres Clinton is a caring man, concerned about his feloow human beings. He could live a relaxed, cozy life style somewhere yet he still alert on the issues , sincerely interested in Ireland and its people. Of course, he does get large sums for speaking fees, but he could choose to just talk about his book and administration or such. Instead, he relates to a very current and sad side effect to the end of the Celtic tiger economy. He speaks from the heart.

Bill will always be a legend, and he is special to the Irish people. He is obviously sincere in what he says and everything he says resonates with us. We will always love him.

The failure of subsequent governments, the economic fallout and the explosive consequences of sex-abuse by the church of their father's would be the main contrubution to suicide. We all know the resilience of the Irish but they have received a full share of the iniquities of others. God knows they will recover and come back fighting never to be treated as they have been ever again. All power to them.

Suicide or any manifestation of mental illness in Ireland has long been frowned upon and indeed swept under the rug. For Bill Clinton to address it in such a public forum can only shed light on this tragic ending to so many lives in Ireland. I personally don't care how much he made or makes for a speech, it has nothing to do with the message he is trying to get across to the audience. Mr. Clinton is of course correct in stating Ireland will recover by returing to what is at the core of the hearts of Irish people in the US and all over the world. We will recover, in this country and in Ireland because thats what we do. God bless Ireland and the United States of America.

@breffnyblue is seeing the big picture. Generations of Irish "hung tough" through greater obstacles because they had a reason why. Ireland belatedly came into modernism and postmodernism and bought into secular humanism with its bankrupt philosophy--and now has one of the highest suicide rates for young males. We should value the real treasures in our Irish heritage while correcting all that urgently needs correcting.

Slick willie is still conning the masses and the easily fooled Irish. Have cigar will travel.

What do you mean "tricked into buying a house" sirpeter? Come on, one minute we are bright and the next we don't know what we are doing when buying a house.... Don't kid yourself..only fools buy what they can't afford......

BTW - In Ireland, suicides sometimes throw up banshees. America’s NBC station, as part of their “Destination Truth” series, will broadcast live on St. Patk's Day from Duckett’s Grove Castle in Co. Carlow, Ireland as they film the night-time goings-on there, hoping the Castle’s banshee makes an appearance. You can watch it live on the internet at (wx3)syfy(dot)com/destinationtruth from 6pmEST.

Yes, I agree w/McNamara - breffnyblue's post is well written and notably true.

@breffnyblue.. Beautifully said, tragic and true.

I never liked the Nafta agreement or the Gatt treaty. Ex-President Clinton said, if it didn't work for us, in six months we could get out of it. Then of course, he was out of office, shortly after. Other than that I thought he was a good President. I sometimes wonder though, when he said " I feel your pain" was he really talking to the multi-national corporations?

Taking too many risks was bad for everyone. Best to save ahead. Don't buy the most expensive house just because some loan agent says you can.