Suicides and Self-Harm among the Young

[Conuil]

Within the past week, over seven young people have taken their own lives by suicide across the North.....

A tragedy of drastic proportions to say the least, at least three of whom were young men in their twenties from around my area in North Belfast.

Two others died in a County Tyrone lake. Both of whom met over chatrooms on the net. One came from Dublin and the other from Tyrone.

In West Belfast, another young man left hs family a sucide note, before walking to a nearby woods... to hang himself... Luckily enough, his sister found the note and ran to the scene, where a group of local teenagers helped her save him, by holding the 28 year-old up, so he wouldn't hang!

Meanwhile, in a seperate development. Trained counsellors should be available to every school in the North to help steer young people away from self-harm and suicide. The call was made to Executive Ministers by a local Charity.

The Source for the above stories, were printed in today's (Thursday's)
Irish News .................................................. ..........................

A very sad state of affairs; has my fellow posters.. got any suggestions? As I know these issues are countrywide and cross many different communities, rural and urban?

The Youth are the future of this nation......As adults we pin our hopes and dreams in our children. The issue possibly needs a national (Irish) taskforce to help young people, take pride in themselves..................

[Akrasia]

It's very very sad, and unfortunately suicide is far too common.

In Ennis, a town of less than 30,000 people, 4 young travellers have taken their lives in the last 4 weeks alone.

The principle cause of suicide is a total lack of hope.

[dubsthcentralboy]

It's very very sad, and unfortunately suicide is far too common.

In Ennis, a town of less than 30,000 people, 4 young travellers have taken their lives in the last 4 weeks alone.

The principle cause of suicide is a total lack of hope.

We've told young people that the consumer society and materialism can give them everything. When they get to the bottom of the bottle (or whatever) and realise that this is not the case there's nothing outside of themselves to look towards for hope.

We need to show young people that there is hope - there is hope outside of possessions and materialism.

[Auditor #9]

Joe Duffy had some mothers on today talking about this - people are actually meeting on the internet and doing it in unison how bizarre - and some guy came on and blamed the insensitive, macho, money-oriented culture we now live in. I'm sure it's a lot more complex - depression, relationships and other stresses and someone else came on and said the casualties are all ages but I'm not sure - i've actually known more cases of teens and early twenties.

400 people die a year this way

[L'Chaim]

The really sad thing about suicide is that the feelings of despair, sorrow or shame, that drives a person to take their own life, in time and with help, might change. While they might feel that suicide is the best option at that moment, things are never that bad. No matter how bad they feel, their family and friends will not be better off without them.

I know that it's a common thought that people who take their own lives are selfish. I don't think so. I think that the desperation felt, that would take a person to the moment of suicide, has to be huge.

I think we need more helplines and advisors available for people who are thinking of ending it all. A lot of these people are from rural areas and they must feel that there's nobody available to help them. They need to know that not only is help out there, but that the help they need is available close to home.

[rockyracoon]

Its a problem everyone knows about but which nobody ever talks about on a national scale. I don't know if its what makes the news, but most seem to be young males. Around Monaghan/Cavan is seems to happen in clusters. Nothing happens for awhile and then, bang, you get several. Growing up we never heard of the phenomenon. I do not know if it wasn't reported previously due to protection of the family. It's something that has to be tackled. I seem to remember a stat that Ireland has one of the highest suicide rates in Europe. Have any studies been done?

[Auditor #9]

Just for 1996 - first google hit:

Republic of Ireland
378 suicides in 1996 - 310 males and 68 females.
The Republic of Ireland suicide rate was 13.6 per 100,000 population in 1996.
For males, the suicide rate was 22.9, for females it was 4.9 per 100,000 population.
There has been a 24% increase in the suicide rate since 1985 in the Republic of Ireland.


http://www.a1b2c3.com/suilodge/figuk1.htm

[Meursault]

A couple of suicides down here recently too. Very sad. Is it generally more common in rural areas, I have seen figures to back this up. Why. Is it just the isolation?

[simplythebest]

suicide kills more of our young men, then road traffic accidents, speaking as someone who's friend commited suicide, i for one will be urging mary harney to

1 increase awareness in schools and communities
2 increase the budget for mental health care within this country

people need to know that suicide is not the means to and end, it just begins further heartache for those left behind

[CookieMonster]

A couple of suicides down here recently too. Very sad. Is it generally more common in rural areas, I have seen figures to back this up. Why. Is it just the isolation?

To be 100% honest, I don't know. One would assume that the isolation and I suppose the lack of a immediate social network and support is a contributing factor.