Travellers over 50 have highest risk of self-harm

Martin Collins, Co-director of Pavee Point, says there was a pledge to implement a National Traveller Mental Health Strategy in the programme for Government but so far “not a stitch has happened.” 

Travellers over the age of 50 have the highest risk of presenting with self-harm in Irish Emergency Departments, with new research also showing this may be associated with "the mental distress experienced by the eldest Travellers, due to discrimination or poor physical health”.

The findings are published by members of the National Suicide Research Foundation, who analysed 24,473 self-harm and suicide-related ideation presentations over a two year period at different EDs. It found that in that period, covering 2018 and 2019, 744 presentations were made by Irish Traveller patients - 3% of the total.