Suicide research funds cut as deaths rise

THE Government has almost halved its spending on suicide prevention and research programmes from €1.11 million to €655,000.

This is despite the fact there were 451 suicide deaths registered in 2002, an increase on the figures in the previous year.

Ireland has one of the highest suicide rates in Europe among men aged 25-34 years and a recent survey found 55% of young people know of a peer who has attempted or died by suicide.

The highest suicide rate over the past five years has been among men aged between 20 and 29 years and, since 1997, the number of suicide deaths registered has consistently been higher than the number of vehicle accident deaths, according to the National Suicide Review Group’s annual report for 2002.

Last night, a spokesman for the Samaritans expressed dismay that the Government’s spending on suicide prevention programmes and research had been cut.

“It is very important that the issue of suicide prevention does not slip from the Government’s agenda,” the spokesman said.

He said there was a need for ongoing research so that the proper responses could be put in place by all agencies with a responsibility in this area.

But, the department said an increased “cumulative total of more than €13m has been provided towards suicide prevention and for research since the publication of the report of the National Task Force on Suicide in 1998”.

Yesterday, Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children Tim O’Malley welcomed the publication of the fourth annual report, which outlines health board measures taken in 2002 to help prevent suicide.

The report showed there were 451 suicide deaths registered in 2002 compared to 448 for 2001. Across the health boards, there was little variation in suicide rates. The lowest was in the Eastern Regional Health Authority.