Depression awareness is essential in bid to cut suicides
Unfortunately, depression, particularly in men, could be masked by other behavioural disorders, according to Dr Wolfgang Rutz, who is Europe adviser of the World Health Organisation's Mental Health Programme.
Dr Rutz, who addressed a major Dublin conference on suicide organised by the Irish College of General Practitioners, is also the lead author of the famous Gotland study conducted on the Swedish island that showed how suicide could be reduced by educating general practitioners on depression and how to treat it.
But, said Dr Rutz, while it was found the incidence of suicide among women patients was drastically reduced, the pattern of male suicide remained the same: “We wondered why and found that those men were not coming into contact with the primary health care system.”
The men were coming into contact with police and addiction services but not the medical services. "If they came in contact with the medical system at all, they were drunk and were not considered to be depressed."
Dr Rutz said services need to be designed that were acceptable for men to use. "When men are depressed they retreat from society or they behave very aggressively. Such behaviour does not invite an offer of help." Treatment for depression was often not offered because a diagnosis of alcoholism or sociopathic behaviour was given.
Dr Paddy Halligan, a Bailieborough, Co Cavan, GP complained there were no counselling services for doctors, nurses and the gardaí who dealt with persons who committed suicide. His study of the impact of suicide on 400 frontline workers in the North-East found 13% had problems with sleep, were irritable, unable to concentrate and questioned their professional integrity, and 8% had feelings of failure and guilt. Dr Halligan said women were affected more than men by the experience and the vast majority of front-line workers, including GPs, agreed they needed support to help them cope.
Dr Declan Bedford, co-author of "Suicide in Ireland - A National Study" said the report had shown the importance of general practice as a point of contact for those at risk of suicide. He pointed out how over 30% of patients had contacted their GP within a month prior to their suicide.
