2014-04-22 - Socio Economic Review 2014 - Full text and cover - FINAL

There was a downward trend in the rate from 2003, which stopped in 2007,
something partly attributed to the change in the economy by the National Office
of Suicide Prevention (2011). According to the latest figures available from the
National Suicide Research Foundation, which are still provisional, there were 507
recorded suicides in 2012, of which 413 were males and 94 were females. According
to the HSE, international studies indicate that for every 1 per cent increase in
unemployment, there is a 0.9 per cent increase in suicides (2014).
Table 8.5 shows that suicide is predominantly a male phenomenon, accounting for
approximately 80 per cent of such deaths. Young males in particular, are the group
most at risk, although the rate for men remains consistently high at all ages up to
mid-sixties. At every age the rate is higher for men than for women (National Office
for Suicide Prevention, 2013). The highest rate is among 20-24 year old males at 31.9
per 100,000 population. Some 42% of those who died by suicide in 2010 were men
less than 40 years of age (National Office for Suicide Prevention, 2013).
Identification of overall trends in suicide rates is a complex process particularly using
international comparisons. World Health Organization statistics suggest that where
overall rates of suicide are concerned, Ireland ranked 6th lowest in the EU. However,
where younger age-groups are concerned (5-24 year olds), Ireland ranks fourth
highest for deaths by suicide at 13.9 per 100,000 population (National Office of
Suicide Prevention, 2013).
Table 8.5 – Suicides in Ireland 2003-2012
overall Males Females
year No. Rate No. Rate No. Rate
2003 497 12.5 386 19.5 111 5.5
2004 493 12.2 406 20.2 87 4.3
2005 481 11.6 382 18.5 99 4.8
2006 460 10.9 379 17.9 81 3.8
2007 458 10.6 362 16.7 96 4.4
2008 506 11.4 386 17.5 120 5.4
2009 552 12.4 443 20.0 109 4.9
2010 490 11 405 18.3 90 4.0
2011 554 12.2 458 20.2 96 4.1
2012* 507 11.1 413 18.2 94 4.1
Notes: * Provisional figures
Rate is rate per 100,000 of the population.
National Suicide Research Foundation (2013)
8. Healthcare 183