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Irish suicide numbers show sharp rise as recession takes its toll

Young men vulnerable as 600 a year take their own life

PATRICK COUNIHAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, June 17, 2012, 8:37 AM

Updated Sunday, June 17, 2012, 8:37 AM

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Irish suicide numbers are rising.

“Before the recession, the Irish rate of suicide was stable and may have been decreasing.

“The advent of the recession changed this trend and we have seen significant increases in suicide deaths and self-harm presenting to hospital, increases that have been most evident in young men.”

The most recent figures from Ireland’s Central Statistics Office show there were 552 suicides recorded in 2009, up nine percent on the previous year. Of those, 443 were men and 109 women took their own lives.

The figures show 80 percent of victims were men with an average age of just 36.

Corcoran added: “The CSO figures also confirm that suicides among men in Ireland rose sharply as the economy went into severe recession.”

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89west | Jun 18, 2012, 07:50 AM EDT

It has been reported, suicide among a similar population of civilians is 19.5 per 100K, whereas, the military rate is 20 per 100K. Hardly, any marked difference between the two populations. Further, what was the ratio of suicide deaths between reservists or full time active duty troops. Also contributing factors such as substance abuse and undetected mental illness prior to entry into military service must not be overlooked before blaming the stress of combat and family separation for such tragedies.

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eiriamach | Jun 18, 2012, 06:12 AM EDT

Bythebay, suicide is now the number-one cause of death among the American military, outpacing deaths in battle, and many veterans of wars commit suicide as well. Only you and Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church view these tragedies as God's vengeance against America. Don't get into bed with Fred! A suicide sends us a message: "This life, under these conditions, is not worth living." We need to take that message seriously and get to work on changing the conditions and opening up real choices for those caught up in the sense of hopelessness of war or economic failures.

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canadianirish | Jun 17, 2012, 10:08 PM EDT

Such a sad tale. I pray for Ireland and her people. There's a wonderful man in Limerick whose name is Seamus Sherlock and he's formed an organization called: 'Life After Debt' - check out his facebook page. He's an inspiring figure who reached out to help those in financial and emotional distress. I applaud him for his efforts. God Bless you, Seamus.

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89west | Jun 17, 2012, 08:28 PM EDT

.........The other day you were ranting about 8 million and today it is 8.5 million going hungry. Well the truth be told, half are castaways from Erin's green shore. Products of a failed society who never has the ability to feed their own. The other half are born here, who starve themselves purposely, because they go to weight watchers. Speaking of that, it would do you no harm to starve yourself, you could do with losing two or three stone.

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Bythebay | Jun 17, 2012, 05:25 PM EDT

WoundFeet, right back at you! God rejected the US decades ago when you murdered the innocent Japanese and continued your disastrous illegal wars and civilian murders ever since. You have 8.5 million going hungry every day. You're the most debted nation in the world. Drivel and ignorance is yours.

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WoundedKnee | Jun 17, 2012, 02:01 PM EDT

Ireland hasn't rejected God. God has rejected Ireland. And when you read the drivel posted by sirpeter and ciarabythe way, can you blame Him?

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Bythebay | Jun 17, 2012, 02:01 PM EDT

There has been a huge increase in suicide rates in the general US population since their economic collapse of 2008 as well as in their military who've been in Iraq, the illegal war. Sweden and Denmark as well as Japan have some of the highest suicide rates, Greece has the highest suicide rate in Europe.

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Bythebay | Jun 17, 2012, 01:58 PM EDT

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Bythebay | Jun 17, 2012, 01:45 PM EDT

Americans getting it wrong again. Ireland hasn't rejected God. Ireland has rejected the vicious, nasty, manipulative, overbearing, and abusive Catholic Church. Get your facts right.

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Searlit | Jun 17, 2012, 11:26 AM EDT

Well said McNamara31!

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McNamara31 | Jun 17, 2012, 11:23 AM EDT

jhmdeuce...I don't think the Irish have rejected God or ever will, however I do feel the truths of how the church behaved in concealing abusing priest for decades has added to a national depression of the spirit. We were all raised in the faith and the men in the Vatican greatly decimated pleoples faith "in them" the Vatican, but not their faith in God.

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jhmdeuce | Jun 17, 2012, 10:56 AM EDT

“This is Ireland of tough times. There is no doubt that unemployment makes things worse." Perhaps, but this Ireland of tough times has also joined the modern world and rejected God. I pray for Ireland daily.

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