Ivor Callely
Question:84 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the yearly suicide figures available; the most common form of suicide; and the progress, if any, which has been made in addressing this matter.
Written Answers. - Suicide Statistics.
The annual reports on vital statistics compiled by the Central Statistics Office include information on death from suicide. These reports break down death from suicide by age, sex and method used.
The following table sets out the position in respect of reported deaths from suicide over the period 1982-91:—
No. of Reported Deaths from Suicide 1982-91.
|
Year |
Men |
Women |
Total |
|
1982 |
178 |
63 |
241 |
|
1983 |
202 |
80 |
282 |
|
1984 |
164 |
68 |
232 |
|
1985 |
216 |
60 |
276 |
|
1986 |
217 |
66 |
283 |
|
1987 |
185 |
60 |
245 |
|
1988 |
195 |
71 |
266 |
|
1989 |
213 |
65 |
278 |
|
1990 |
251 |
83 |
334 |
|
1991* |
252 |
66 |
318 |
* Provisional.
Over the period 1982-90 the following were the most common methods used to commit suicide:—
Men.
|
Method |
No. of Cases |
|
1. Hanging, Strangulation and Suffocation. |
624 |
|
2. Drowning. |
457 |
|
3. Poisoning by solid or liquid substances. |
297 |
|
4. Firearms and Explosives. |
210 |
|
5. Poisoning by gases (other than gases in domestic use) and vapours. |
105 |
|
6. All other methods. |
128 |
Women.
|
Method |
No. of Cases |
|
1. Poisoning by solid or liquid substances. |
239 |
|
2. Drowning. |
227 |
|
3. Hanging, Strangulation and Suffocation. |
73 |
|
4. All other methods. |
77 |
In response to the problem of suicide the health services provide support to those immediately identifiable as distressed. A large proportion of suicide is associated with a recognisable mental disorder, most commonly a treatable mental illness. Health boards are involved in a number of ways in promoting better coping skills through parenting programmes, pre-school playgroups, lifeskills education in schools, alcohol and drug awareness programmes and social support for elderly people living alone.
It is the Government's intention that the promotion of mental health should form part of health promotion generally. As the Deputy will be aware, one chapter in the Green Paper on Mental Health launched in June 1992 discusses the challenge of promoting mental health and the prevention of suicide. The Green Paper outlines the role mental health personnel can play in the prevention of suicide and emphasises the important contribution of voluntary bodies.