33 male farmers died by suicide in 2009

THREE times as many farmers die by suicide in Ireland compared with accountants, engineers and solicitors, according to a study by Teagasc.

A conference organised by the National Farm Safety heard that 33 male farmers died by suicide last year, a 24% increase on 2008.

Maria Feeney, Teagasc Rural Economy Research Centre and UCD Walsh Fellow, said high rates of rural suicide were not, however, just an Irish phenomenon. Studies have shown similar trends in Australia and Scotland where urban rates of suicide were also lower.