Rural suicide rates - Loneliness is at root of these deaths

A SECOND county coroner yesterday rang the alarm bells about escalating suicide rates in rural areas.

The coroner for Kerry South, Terence Casey, reiterated the concern expressed by Offaly’s acting coroner Brian Mahon last week when Mr Mahon said that a “really serious situation” was developing in Ireland.

Yesterday, Mr Casey pointed to a trend that suggests social isolation and loneliness are at the root of a surge in the numbers of older people taking their lives.