Suicides soaring - Recession costs lives

IF, as the director of the National Office for Suicide Prevention suggests, that the surge in suicide is partially due to the recession then it is not going too far to say that those responsible have blood on their hands.

Last year more than 500 Irish people took their own lives. That’s more than twice the number – 241 – killed on our roads.

The NOSP pointed out that they are dealing with a new group of people, men between 30 and 50, who have always worked and enjoy relative economic independence but because of unemployment have become susceptible to suicide.

This is a startling development but now that we are aware of it we must do all we can as a society and as individuals to help those so badly hit by the recession.