Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)

I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to be here this evening. I am really grateful for the opportunity to raise the very important issue of suicide prevention. I am raising it from a place of concern and from a place of care - care for anyone who is grieving the loss of a partner, a family member or a friend and care for everyone who has dedicated their professional life to contributing to better outcomes when it comes to suicide and mental health in Ireland.

The most recent statistics available to us are from 2021. In that year, 512 people died by suicide. For every ten people who died by suicide in Ireland that year, eight were men, yet several studies have shown how less likely men are to seek out mental health supports. Research by Queen's University from last year showed that 70% of male victims of domestic violence had considered suicide. Ireland ranks in the bottom half of 42 countries in terms of adolescent well-being, while our youth suicide rate is above the international average.

Statistics, however, are not what matters in this debate. I am sure the Minister of State will point to the decreasing number of deaths by suicide in Ireland in recent years. I acknowledge the wonderful work being done by the HSE and by youth workers, therapists, school communities, social workers, volunteers, communities and society and I take this opportunity to commend the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, on her commitment to mental health, especially when it comes to capital investment.

My considered concern this evening, however, is for the men of Ireland, be they young, middle aged or older, who feel like they cannot say something out loud about their mental health and who feel like they cannot seek support. In their Journal article, Shane O’Donnell, Noel Richardson and Aisling McGrath contend that conformity to masculine norms within university settings has been attributed to men’s reluctance to seek help for mental health problems. These norms could be described as toughness, emotional control and self-reliance so I raise this issue to encourage anyone who might stumble across it, be they young or old. I wish to remind us all, but especially the eight in ten men, how normal it is to be the opposite of tough, to be reliant on others and to be supported. If and when people do seek out such potentially life-saving supports, we must ensure they are there and that Government policy and Government funding ensure they are readily available.

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