More drown by suicide than accident, says water safety body

MORE people drown by suicide than by accident, according to a study conducted by Irish Water Safety.

Most of the annual average 95 suicide drownings are among men aged 30 to 34, and the numbers are growing every year.

The number of drowning suicides by men has doubled in the past 20 years, the survey reveals.

“Tragically, in the 10 years to 2002, there were 968 suicides by drowning in Ireland, whereas there were 713 accidental drownings and 119 undetermined over the same period,” said the IWS, the statutory body established to promote water safety in Ireland.

“We average 95 suicides by drowning every year, which eclipses the average accidental drowning figure of 71,” said Roger Sweeney who helped compile the figures. “For every 100,000 people who live in this country, two die from suicide by drowning every year.”

However, even these alarming figures may be understating the real rate of drowning suicides in Ireland, according to IWS.

“Drowning numbers may well be a good deal higher than reported, since it’s easier to disguise suicidal intent with drowning than with either hanging or carbon monoxide poisoning,” said Mr Sweeney.

“The rate of death by suicide nationally has doubled from 6.4% per 100,000 in 1980 to 12.8% in the year 2000.

Death by suicide represented 1.5% of all deaths in Ireland in 1996-2000.

“The male suicide rate has more than doubled over the past 20 years while the female rate has remained fairly constant.”

Mr Sweeney added deaths from suicide by drowning occur far more frequently in fresh water than at sea. Contrary to popular myth, most people who drown themselves are totally sober. “The vast majority of suicides by drowning involve no intoxication whatsoever,” he said.

Most of these, 703, were male suicides, mostly aged 30 to 34. There were 81 drownings in this group, according to the study.

Of the 265 female suicide drownings in the same period, the 45 to 49 age group was most affected. There were 38 drownings by suicide in this age bracket.

The most common suicide method in Ireland is hanging, accounting for almost 50% of suicides. Drowning is the next most common, closely followed by poisoning. Males are more likely to choose hanging, while females are more likely to choose drowning.

* Suicide Helpline 1800 742 745.