Suicide crisis - So much more to do

There has been a spate of suicides around the country in recent weeks.

In deference to the families of victims, society usually plays down the issue. Families are real victims, because they frequently go through mental torture, wondering if there was something that they could or should have done to help.

Ironically, the person taking their own life may have been partly influenced by the mistaken belief that the family would be better off without them.

Organisations like the Samaritans and Pieta House do invaluable work in counselling people who feel suicidal, but so much more needs to be done. It has long been recognised as a myth that a single event drives somebody to suicide. It is usually a confluence of different pressures, and drugs — legal or illegal — are often a factor.

The Countryman Emergency Rescue Team (CERT), established in Limerick 12 months ago patrols the River Shannon for people considering taking their own lives, and is also highlighting the suicide problem.