80% of suicide victims were in touch with GP

More than 80% of people who died by suicide had been in contact with a GP or mental health service in the year prior to their death, a study has found.

The report by the National Suicide Research Foundation (NSRF), which looked at 190 cases of suicide in Cork City and county between Sept 2008 and Mar 2011, also found that in 60% of cases the person had been in contact with a GP at least four times in the 12 months before taking their lives.

The Suicide Support and Information System (SSIS) pilot study was based on research with coroners, healthcare professionals and family members. More than 80% of cases involved men.