Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I apologise that I was late for the presentation.

Several weeks ago the HSE reported that in south Dublin more women, young mothers, were dying of suicide than men. This is unprecedented. Usually, the ratio of suicide between men and women is 3:1. In south Dublin, including Clondalkin where I live, Ballyfermot and Tallaght, in 37 deaths from suicide, more than 50% were women. Many of them were mothers in their 20s and 30s. Obviously, socio-economic disadvantage played a part. Poverty, alienation, inequality and homelessness also have played a significant part in the past eight years where it has driven people to kill themselves. That is the reality. Will the witnesses comment on this? Is this a spike or a new reality? In the past six months, I know of four women who have died by suicide in my area. One would normally not hear of this. Poverty and social exclusion plays a large part in people's mental health.

There is a crisis of well-being in society, which is obsessed with consumerism. I do not say everyone is like that, but consumerism in a society where people are not being housed and are disadvantaged because of where they are from plays a significant part in how people perceive themselves. That can affect people's physical and mental well-being. Will Dr. McDaid comment on this point, particularly the figures from Dublin South-Central? Anyone would view them as startling. One suicide is bad enough, but this is a worrying trend.