Distretto Nord

In aumento i suicidi in Irlanda del Nord

Fears Northern Ireland suicide rate is on the rise, according to new figures

Thousands of people self-harming in region as well, Stormont paper reveals

The number of people taking their own lives in Northern Ireland appears to be on the rise, it is feared.

Figures circulated in Stormont show a downward trend in the region’s deaths by suicide seems to have gone into reverse.

Department of Health figures, seen by Belfast Live, show there had been a downward trend in suicides up until 2014.

Statistics circulated to a number of Stormont MLAs say the suicide rate had been increasing from the 2005/2006 period up until a peak in 2010 of 313 deaths. That period was followed by a “welcome decrease” in 2014 when the figure fell to 268.

However the document, aimed at briefing MLAs with a view to helping shape Stormont policies to tackle suicide, says new figures set to be published in the coming weeks will be disappointing.

It adds: “However early indications are that there has been a rise in 2015 with 246 deaths recorded in the first nine months of 2015 (20% higher than the same period in 2014). The total final figures for 2015 will be available in April.”

The document also outlines worrying figures about self-harm levels, stating that between April 2013 and March 2014 “there were 8,453 presentations at hospital emergency departments in Northern Ireland as a result of self harm, involving almost 6,000 people (one fifth of who presented on more than one occasion and would, therefore, be considered to have a high risk of suicidal behaviour)”.

The briefing adds: “An additional 3,623 cases presented with suicidal ideation, 65% of whom were male.”

It says the Northern Ireland Self Harm Registry Annual Report 2013/14 shows that the rate of self harm in the region was 327 per 100,000 of population which is 64% higher than the Republic.

The document also addresses a number of other issues including pointing out that suicide is three times higher in the most deprived areas when compared to the least deprived.

Suicide awareness campaigner Philip McTaggart said he is not surprised by the figures and that Stormont needs to more to address the root causes of suicide.

He added: “The word suicide catches people’s attention, but the actions that lead up to it go unnoticed. More needs to be done to provide awareness of the signs that people need to pick up on. The services that are out there dealing with the mental health problems that come before suicide are inundated.

“Look at the money that was spent on bird flu, yet we have an epidemic of suicide and self harm and there’s just no where near the same commitment to mental health. They might not say it publicly, but one of the biggest problems schools are facing is self-harm. And self-harm isn’t just cutting, there’s all sorts of ways it can happen including people harming themselves through drink and drugs because they believe no one cares or burning themselves with cigarettes.

“But these mental health issues, people can come out of it if the help’s there and think of the money that can be saved in the long-run if more is done in prevention, that’s where Stormont needs to think very carefully about how it deals with suicide.”

Anyone who believes they need help regarding issues can call the Lifeline helpline on 0808 808 8000.

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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