Drink blamed as 3,000 under-25s attempt suicide

ALMOST 3,000 people under the age of 25 were treated in hospital last year for attempted suicide or deliberate self-harm.

More than 4,000 of a total of 8,800 patients treated for parasuicide in 2003 were under the age of 30, according to figures in the National Parasuicide Registry annual report, published today. Almost 1,000 of these were young women aged 15-19.

Alcohol was a factor in more than 5,000 out of the overall number of 11,200 episodes of self-harm. Authors Paul Corcoran and Prof Ivan Perry, deputy director and director of the National Suicide Research Foundation (NSRF) warned of the continuing “strong association between alcohol consumption and suicidal behaviour”.

Research released on Tuesday showed Irish teenage girls are the top binge-drinkers in Europe.

NSRF research director Dr Ella Arensman said their report found the peak times for attempted suicides were late at night at the weekend. “We know there is a link between binge drinking and levels of depression and also that people have less control when drunk.”

The authors also warned of the likely knock-on effect this was having on hospital A&E units, and of the dangers of inadequate assessment of those presenting for treatment at A&E.

As many as 38% or close to 3,344 patients received no follow-up treatment and half of the patients who used cutting as the main method of self-harm were discharged after receiving treatment in the A&E. Dr Arensman said this was of major concern.

“The risk of repetition is highest in the first month after the initial act, so it is crucial that health care staff take a more proactive approach.&”

The report also found self-harm among men on the increase, with males aged 20-24 the highest risk group. Across all male age groups, numbers rose by 6.5% from 167 per 100,000 in 2002 to 177 per 100,000 in 2003, while the overall number of people attempting suicide or self-harm rose by 3.6%.

President of Irish Association of Suicidology Dan Neville said it was a “disgrace and a scandal” that the Government “continued to ignore such a major public health issue” by failing to invest in research to determine the causes behind our rising suicide and parasuicide levels.

He called for “urgent and comprehensive funding” to facilitate such research and for the introduction of suitable suicide prevention programmes.

The NSRF is meeting with the minister responsible for mental health, Tim O’Malley, today to discuss the findings of the report.