Elderly men ‘most likely to commit suicide’

ELDERLY men are more likely to take their own lives than any other group in Irish society, contrary to the perception that young people present a higher risk of suicide.

According to the Irish Association of Suicidology, the number of elderly committing suicide has overtaken youth suicides and part of the reason for that is the isolation and lack of facilities for those living alone, particularly in rural Ireland.

“Youth suicide rates used to be higher but they have now been surpassed,” Dr John Connolly, honorary secretary of the association, said yesterday.