Coroner says suicide rate has doubled in North Mayo

The rate of suicide in one coroner’s area has doubled in the past five years.

GP Dr Eleanor Fitzgerald, who is coroner for North Mayo, told the last day of the MacGill Summer School that the impact of the recession had wreaked havoc — with suicide a problem among young people in particular, amid growing referrals for mental health problems and excess alcohol consumption. She said cutbacks were also damaging the health service.

“In my area, the impact of rising rates of suicide over the past five years is that — based on the figures from inquests held between 2007 and 2012 — suicides have doubled,” Dr Fitzgerald said.