Cork’s suicide rate surges by over 50%

CORK’S official suicide rate has surged by more than 50% since the start of the economic crisis.

Latest figures detailed at the HSE South regional health forum show that in 2008 a total of 64 people lost their lives in this way.

By the end of 2009, the number had risen to 93.

While finalised levels for last year are not yet available, it is widely expected that suicide rates rose again last year with a number of deaths in Cork and other parts of the country currently the subject of coroners court deliberations.

According to the HSE figures, based on those from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), 136 people officially died by suicide in Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Wexford, south Tipperary, Carlow and Kilkenny in 2008.

By the end of 2009, the official figure had risen to 170, with Cork the only one of these counties to see a significant rise.

During the same period the amount of money being specifically ring-fenced for mental health services in the HSE South rose from €204 million in 2008 to €216m in 2009.

While it continues to account for 9% of the overall HSE South budget, due to cuts imposed last year, the amount of money set aside for mental health services in the region fell to €196m last year.

In a statement to the HSE South regional health forum, health service official Michael Fitzgerald defended the state’s response to the ongoing suicide crisis.

He said “huge efforts” are being made to tackle the issue, a situation Mr Fitzgerald argued is “evidenced in the number and range of programmes under way” focusing on addressing the causes of suicide.

Latest figures published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show 527 deaths were recorded as suicides throughout Ireland in 2009, up significantly from the 424 cases the previous year.

This is partially due to a change in how suicide deaths are recorded in the coroners courts.

An additional 195 “deaths by undetermined intent” were also recorded during the period.

Death rate

Official HSE South figures

- Cork: 64 suicide deaths in 2008, 93 in 2009.

- Kerry: 16 suicide deaths in 2008, 18 in 2009.

- Waterford: 14 suicide deaths in 2008, 14 in 2009.

- Wexford: 16 suicide deaths in 2008, 22 in 2009.

- South Tipperary: 9 suicide deaths in 2008, 12 in 2009.

- Carlow/Kilkenny: 17 suicide deaths in 2008, 11 in 2009.

Helping hands

Regional suicide prevention services:

- Suicide prevention helpline: 1800-742-745 (freephone, open daily 6pm-10pm).

- Farm and rural stress helpline: 1800-742-645 (freephone, open daily 6pm-10pm).

- Details on applied suicide intervention skills training courses, suicide bereavement support services, such as Loinnir and Listowel-based youth service Jigsaw available from HSE contact numbers.

- Specialist crisis nurse service available to those who present at emergency departments after attempted self-harm or suicide. Offered for six-to-eight weeks after hospital discharge at CUH, MUH, South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital and Mallow General Hospital.

- Regional suicide resource office: 051-874013