Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)

Suicide among Travellers was up to five times more common than for the rest of the population during 2000-06 according to the first study of its kind to take place in Ireland. The research also discovered that suicide most often follows the death of someone close to the victim. The loss of Traveller identity and culture among younger members of the community may also play a part in suicide rates. According to the study, the age group most at risk is 25 to 29.

The report, which was prepared by Ms Mary Rose Walker of Wicklow County Council and launched by the Wicklow Traveller Interagency Group in December, is unique in that it covered the entire Traveller population over a seven year period, gathering information regarding family circumstances and underlying issues concerning the subjects of the research. The sources of data included local authority social workers for Travellers, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government annual statistics, the national Traveller population and the CSO.

The main findings of the report were that between 2000 and 2006, the suicide rate among Irish Travellers was 3.7 per 10,000, more than three times that of the total population. It peaked in 2005 when it was over five times the national rate.

Suicide is predominantly a male issue among Travellers. For the total population male suicide is four times more common than female, but for Travellers male suicide makes up 91% of suicides, more than nine times as common as female suicide.

Of those who died, 52% were never married, while a further 15% were separated or widowed. Over 65% of Traveller suicides occurred among those aged under 30. The age group most at risk for Travellers was 25 to 29, accounting for 26% of Traveller suicides. Suicide among Travellers aged 40 and over, at 12%, is relatively infrequent compared to the total population, where it is 46%. Almost 80% die by hanging with poisoning being the second most commonly used method by the Travelling community to take their lives, at 9%.

Accommodation does not seem to be a significant factor except that roadside Travellers are at a greater risk of suicide while rates are lower for those in houses, particularly group housing or privately owned or rented housing. In almost 70% of instances, it was the first attempt at suicide, a fact of significant concern to service providers.

The background in many of the suicides was one of major social difficulty, with a life characterised by alcohol or substance abuse, violent behaviour and a history of self-harm or suicide attempts. People found themselves in a situation where there was no future. The question is not why they had died but how they had managed to stay alive for so long. The report also referred to people who had suffered a considerable degree of hardship and tragedy in a short space of time that would render even the most resilient of people vulnerable to suicide.

There were also motiveless suicides, where the individual showed no sign of suicidal ideation and had none of the risk factors typically associated with suicide, such as depression, alcohol or substance abuse. There appeared to be no reason for the decision and their loved ones spoke of their incredible anguish, unable to understand why these people had chosen to end their lives. With both motiveless and troubled suicide categories found in any group in society, the most common pattern that emerged through the research is that of the Traveller who takes his own life, usually by hanging, following the death of someone close. It is of concern that in 40% of cases where a Traveller took his or her life following the death of someone close, that death was also a suicide, and that 40% of those who died following the death of a loved one also died by suicide.

Violence, whether domestic or feud-related, was reported as a contributory factor in 40 cases of suicide, with eight deaths occurring following a violent episode, with four being victims and four being perpetrators. There were also "shame" suicides, that took place following disclosure of an alleged criminal act or while awaiting trial for a criminal act. In general, the older the individual, the more serious the act was likely to be. The view of the respondents was that the pressure of this shame motivated the people to kill themselves.

The research also looked at why the rate of suicide should be so high in recent years. Ms Walker concluded that:

Today, young Travellers have a lot more in common with their settled peers than their parents' generation did, and to a certain extent, there has been a loss of cultural traditions as they take on the values of mainstream society. However, public opinion as Travellers as inferior and as a threat has not changed, and Travellers face huge rejection from the settlement population. Some attempt to conceal their Traveller identity completely. They are not fully accepted as part of settled society, they may no longer be firmly rooted in their own culture and social traditions, and they have lost pride in their own ethnic identity.

Legal restrictions and economic reasons have made it increasingly difficult for Travellers to travel and to keep horses, both activities being central to Traveller culture. For those without work, who have lost the traditions of travelling and keeping horses, there is nothing to do. Particularly vulnerable are single young men. To alleviate boredom, they may drink, take drugs, joyride and engage in other forms of anti-social behaviour. All of these risktaking behaviours are associated with suicide. It takes little to persuade somebody for whom life holds no interest to end theirs.

With recent changes in society, Travellers have had to learn to cope with increased hostility, difficulty with identity, loss of culture and traditions and lack of purpose in life. Given the existing vulnerabilities of Travellers today, factors such as alcohol or substance abuse, economic insecurity, violence, depression assume an additional risk level. It may therefore not be surprising that an immediate crisis, such as death or conflict, can act as a trigger factor for suicide.

I commend Wicklow County Council and Ms Mary Rose Walker on their research into this area.

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