Recession blamed for 11% rise in self-harm

THE economic downturn has been blamed for the 11% increase in the number of men engaging in deliberate self harm last year.

Director of research at the National Suicide Research Foundation Dr Ella Arensman said there was a definite link with the economic downturn and the increase in men engaging in deliberate self harm.

“An obvious increase was seen in men aged between 25 and 34 – a time in life when people are either in the workforce or looking for jobs,” she pointed out.

The 2008 annual report of the National Registry of Deliberate Self Harm shows that the rate of increase in men engaging in deliberate self harm increased from 162 per 100,000 in 2007 to 180 per 100,000 last year.

Among women there was an increase of 4% in deliberate self harm – 223 per 100,000 last year, compared with 215 per 100,000 in 2007. Last year there were more than 11,700 deliberate harm presentations to accident and emergency departments by 9,218 individuals.

Dr Ella Arensman said the increase in deliberate self harm, particularly among men, underlined the need to implement more intensified prevention and intervention programmes at national level. The National Office for Suicide Prevention will launch a new programme at the end of the month to support people suffering mental health and social problems associated with the economic downturn. The programme is also aimed at helping those working in the social services who come into contact on a regular basis with people going through a period of unemployment or suffering severe financial difficulties.

Dr Arensman said there was particular concern that the problem of deliberate self harm among men would continue to get worse this year. “The increase in deliberate self harm among men that started in the middle of last year because of unemployment and financial cutbacks is expected to intensify this year,” she warned. “We do not know when this is coming to an end.”

There was also an increase in deliberate self-harm among 10- to 14-year-olds, highlighting the need to prioritise mental health programmes especially for this age group.

Drug overdose was the most common method of self harm, followed by self cutting. There was a significant increase in heroin as the drug of choice among those using street drugs as an intentional overdose, whereas cocaine was less frequently used.

Dr Arensman believes heroin is being used in deliberate overdosing because it was cheaper than cocaine.

* Anyone concerned about these issues can contact the Samaritans at 1850 609090 and can also visit www.aware.ie or www.mentalhealthireland.ie