Middle-aged women at greater risk of self-harm or suicide

Middle-aged women have been identified as a group increasingly at risk of self-harm or suicide.

Suicide prevention group Pieta House has tailored a service for women in their 50s in light of the number of calls they have been receiving from that sector.

Although nationally eight of 10 people who die by suicide in Ireland are male, the charity’s chiefs said they have noted a sharp increase over the past two years in the number of mature women who have turned to them for help.

Cindy O’Connor, the chief clinical officer with Pieta House, said: “There’s two main reasons we’ve identified as to why women in their 50s are vulnerable. One is the empty nest syndrome, whereby they feel lonely when their children have grown up and left the family home.

“The other is that they are struggling with their body image as they get older and the sense that they are losing their attractiveness — something which many young women struggle with too.”

Meanwhile, the charity has urged members of the public to look out for isolated or lonely family members in the post-Christmas period.

The group, which runs nine centres across the country, said the season of goodwill can be a lifeline to those with mental health issues, as it’s the one time of year that people tend to become less selfish and to reach out to one another.

But the crisis intervention service, which has already helped over 5,000 people at risk of self-harm or suicide so far this year, said many more lives could be saved if people extended their seasonal benevolence throughout the year — most notably, at the start of January.

The charity, which recently opened its first overseas service in New York, is anticipating demand for its services to peak in early January, as clients find the prospect of facing into the new year overwhelming.

But Ms O’Connor said: “We’re not usually as busy as you might expect over the Christmas period, because it’s the one time that families and friends tend to reach out to one another. People are more mindful of being kind to each other at this time of year.

“But by New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, families often feel they’ve done their duties and that makes it a very difficult time for people who are feeling lonely. If someone has had a difficult year, they are more likely to dread the start of the new year. I would urge people to try and be consistent with their kindness and not just limit it to Christmas, because a simple act of kindness could help save someone’s life.”

Nationally, suicide figures equate to 10 people every week taking their own life. Of those, young males are most at risk.

For more information, see www.pieta.ie.