Suicides at lowest level in a decade

Suicide rates in Ireland have fallen to their lowest level in over a decade, according to preliminary figures released by the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP).

A total of 451 deaths by suicide have been recorded in 2015 — down from 459 in the previous year and 487 in 2013.

However, the NOSP said caution was necessary with suicide figures for the past two years as they are still provisional and subject to change. The preliminary figures for 2015 indicate the suicide rate fell to 9.7 deaths per 100,000 population — down from 10 in 2014 and 12.4 in 2009. The actual number of male suicides rose last year — up seven to 375. However, the increase was offset by a more signification reduction in the number of females who died by suicide during 2015 — down 15 to 76.

According to the NOSP, the highest rate of suicide in recent years were observed among 45- to 54-year-olds for both males and females. The lowest rates are recorded among 15- to 24-year-olds and those aged over 65 years.

NOSP figures show that, for the fourth year in a row, Limerick City had the highest suicide rate in the Republic, although its three-year moving average fell to 22.4 deaths per 100,000 between 2013 and 2015 compared to 26 for the period 2012-2014. It still represents a suicide rate that is over twice the national average. Based on a three-year moving average, other counties with high suicide rates between 2013 and 2015 included Carlow, Roscommon, Tipperary North, Clare, and Cavan.

According to the latest figures, Waterford City had the lowest suicide rate over the same period with just 3.6 deaths per 100,000 population. It is the lowest suicide rate recorded for any county by NOSP in the past decade.

Figures collated by the National Self-Harm Registry show there was a slight but not statistically significant increase in the number of people intentionally harming themselves last year.

A total of 11,189 presentations for self-harm were recorded by hospitals in Ireland in 2015 involving 8,781 patients. It equates to a self-harm rate of 204 per 100,000.

However, the NOSP said the rate of self-harm last year was still 9% higher than the pre-recession rate in 2007. While overall the female rate of self-harm in Ireland is consistently higher than the male rate, the gender gap has been narrowing in recent years.

On an age basis, the highest rate of self-harm is found among women aged 15-19 at 718 per 100,000.

“This rate implies that one in every 139 girls in this age group presented to hospital in 2015 as a consequence of self-harm,” the NOSP said.

The highest rate of self-harm among males was among 20- to 24-year-olds at 553 per 100,000 or one in every 181 men.

High rates of self-harm were also recorded in the main cities for both genders — particularly in Cork and Limerick — as well as for men living in Sligo, Kerry, South Dublin, and Tipperary and women living in South Dublin, Cavan, Meath, and Carlow.

The male rate of self-harm varied from 77 per 100,000 in Monaghan to 434 in Cork City. The female rate ranged from 133 incidents of self-harm per 100,000 in Roscommon to 443 in Limerick City.

Approximately one in five of hospital presentations for self-harm last year involving almost 2,400 patients were due to repeat acts. At least five self-harm presentations were made by 126 individuals at Irish hospitals during 2015. Repeated self-harm is recognised as a significant risk factor for suicide.

Anne O’Connor, the national director of the HSE’s mental health division, said there had been significant changes in suicide rates in Ireland in the past decade with an increase in suicide rates between 2007 and 2011, and a levelling-off from 2012 onwards.

The NOSP said the increase in the early years of the economic downturn were wholly attributable to an increase in the male rate of suicide.

The annual number of suicides in Ireland peaked in 2011 with 554 confirmed deaths.