Dramatic increase in teen suicides - report

A new study has shown a dramatic increase in the number of deaths by suicide in Irish teens under the age of 17.

The report, published in this month's Irish Medical Journal, shows a 16% increase in the suicide rate amongst young people in 2003 to 2008 - when compared with 1993 to 1998.

Ireland has the fourth highest youth suicide rate in the EU and it remains the leading cause of death for young men aged between 15 and 24.

And Joan Freeman, the CEO and Founder of Pieta House suicide crisis centre, says many young people here aren't aware of the gravity of suicide.

"If there's a death by suicide in a young person, immediately there are message put on their Facebook page and these messages would say things like 'save a seat for me' and really that is demonstrating very clearly that young persons have no idea of the fatality of suicide."