Scheme launched as suicides rise ‘400% in 15 years’

THE number of people who commit suicide has increased by 400% over the past 15 years, it emerged yesterday.

Launching a programme to tackle the problem, RehabCare chief executive Angela Kerins said the rise in the number taking their own lives was partly to do with increasingly stressful lives.

Some 444 people committed suicide in 2003. Four out of five were men aged 15 to 24.

“There is a clear and urgent need for a greater focus on suicide prevention, and for an innovative, comprehensive programme that meets the needs of young people, those most at risk,” Ms Kerins said.

RehabCare’s Suicide Prevention Programme aims to develop, on a regional basis, school and community-based prevention and outreach programmes to provide skills-based training for young people, as well as an intervention service linked to a helpline.

RehabCare will also work on a national basis to tackle the stigma surrounding suicide and raise awareness.

Former US President Bill Clinton is to visit Ireland to lend his support to the campaign.

Mr Clinton will be the guest speaker at a fundraising gala dinner at the City West Hotel next month.

It is estimated the service will cost around €1.3 million in the first year.

Launching the programme yesterday, Nobel prize-winner John Hume said a cohesive response was needed.

“Behind each of the statistics there is a story, a history, a family and a lot of love, and of course, a terrible lot of tragedy,” he said.

“We have a problem with death by suicide. We have a problem that needs to be tackled - and one that to date has not had a cohesive response.”