There were 240 deaths — 188 males and 52 females — from suicide in the first six months of 1998, producing an annualised increase of 20.7 per cent for males and 5.6 per cent for females per 100,000. The figures show an increase of 20 per cent over the 1997 figures.
The increasing level of suicide is no longer just a serious issue, it is a crisis and action must be taken. States other than Ireland have introduced effective suicide prevention programmes. There is an urgency for the Minister for Health and Children and the Government to follow suit. We must reduce the level of suicides and ensure that those who feel suicidal have help from State agencies. This help must be readily and easily contactable, 24 hours per day, seven days per week and 52 weeks per year. The recommendations of the national task force on suicide are clear and unambiguous. I recognise that moves have been made by the Department in recent months with regard to setting up various committees and looking at information on the problem. Efforts should be made to reduce the levels of suicide, to raise an awareness of the need to cater for mental and physical health. I agree the Minister of State present has an interest in this area and I thank him for his support for the work of the Irish Association of Suicidology.
There is nothing more devastating for a family than a death by suicide. The death of a parent, son or daughter, partner or any other family member or close friend by suicide brings further stress. Suicides leave the bereaved in a state of shock. They experience sadness, guilt, anger and disbelief. Subsequent to the initial shock, the bereaved begin a long period of searching for an explanation for the tragedy.
Research in the US shows that about half of people affected felt a suicide in the family was a stigma and were unwilling to discuss it with others, least of all with their children. These individuals experience less relief and sadness but more anger and guilt. One of the first clinicians to call attention to this problem suggested:
The person who commits suicide puts his psychological skeleton in the survivor's emotional closet. He sentenced the survivor to a complex of negative feelings and, most importantly, to obsessing about the reasons for the suicide death.
Suicide is a terrible act against human nature. In any attempt to respond to it there must be no hint of acceptability of the act as a means of dealing with any life crisis.
Last year 433 people in the Republic committed suicide compared to 378 in the previous year — 355 males compared to 78 females. The figures today show we are heading for 480 this year, if the trend in the first six months of the year continues. There is a crisis among males between the ages of 15 and 30 given the vast increase in the number of suicides in this age group.
On several occasions, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dea, announced psychological services would be available to all primary and post-primary schools but action has not been taken in that area. Will the Minister inform the House if progress has been made in setting up these services for schools? This is vital. Young people must be informed how to deal with deep anxiety and despair and that there are ways of responding and of overcoming it. A more proactive approach by the Department is necessary to deal with the problem.
