40% of young people attending treatment clinic had attempted suicide

Two out of every five young people who attended a Cork-based drug and alcohol treatment service last year had attempted suicide.

In addition, 70% had displayed suicidal ideation — an unusual preoccupation with killing themselves — according to Dr Sharon Lambert, day care treatment manager with Matt Talbot Services for drug and alcohol treatment.

Dr Lambert said of 200 referrals to the service last year, 96 young people aged between 14 and 23 said they had attempted suicide. However she said the fact that none of these young people had taken their lives showed how effective counselling could be.