James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House to discuss the important subject of suicide. Cyril Connolly rightly said there is no suicide for which society is not responsible. Ireland today is no more or no less responsible than any nation for the increasing level of suicide, especially among young people. We are all responsible but the ultimate responsibility rests with the Government. The Minister of State went into great detail in his contribution and Senator Dooley spoke about funding for the various organisations helping people who have depression and other ailments. The bottom line is that we should try a little harder to fund those organisations.

Senator Dooley mentioned the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland. Rehab is organising a huge fund-raising event next week in Citywest at which the guest speaker will be President Clinton. The aim is to raise funds to help people with depression and related problems which bring about suicide. The Samaritans provide a 24 hour, 365 day per year service and do a great job helping people. Those involved give a great deal of their time and energy in a voluntary capacity and should be complimented on their efforts. We all underestimate the huge voluntary involvement of so many people in so many charitable organisations. The least a Government can do is to give them support by way of funding. That is the bottom line. When we attend organisations' meetings, launches or functions, complaints relate to the shortage of funding.

Over the past five years, 1,015 people under 35 years of age have taken their lives in this country. These are mainly young men under the age of 25. In Ireland, suicide is the principal cause of death among young people. Studies have shown that an increase in the suicide rate in young people is usually associated with a significant social change in a country and in this, Ireland is no exception. In our pursuit of personal happiness and the success we have now taken for granted, the most vulnerable among us are often overlooked by the Government and others in terms of lack of funding. Other supports should be available to help people, including leaflets and other aids in public places and, indeed, in schools. A problem exists in rural Ireland regarding accessibility to information and this matter should be examined more seriously.

I congratulate Young Fine Gael, and in particular Paul Ross, the chairman as well as the executive of the County Longford branch which initiated the proposal, for its excellent work, which has resulted in the "Talk" campaign policy document. It addresses and highlights the issue of youth suicide. Young people in the various political organisations and particularly in my own party have taken this problem on board, on which they should be commended.

A Young Fine Gael executive member, Conor Cresham, has pointed out that in the time it takes to watch the first half of a football match, there is another documented case of attempted suicide in Ireland. There were 11,204 cases of attempted suicide in 2003 alone. Young Fine Gael has called for a tracking and long-term support service for those who have attempted suicide. It is important that if a person makes such an attempt, whatever assistance is required should be made available.

One suicide takes place every 84 minutes in Ireland and the UK with approximately 6,300 people taking their lives each year. Men are likely to kill themselves between the ages of 25 and 34, while women most commonly commit suicide between 45 and 54. Some 90% of suicides are attributed to pre-existing mental disorders while more than 80% of people with depression can be successfully treated if they seek help, assuming that such help is available. I spoke about this earlier.

Throughout the world — I am sure Ireland is no exception — psychiatrists have been puzzled by the rise in suicide rates in the spring and summer months. The increase can be dramatic, with up to 50% more suicides in some areas. The seasonal effect is seen all over the world, with the northern hemisphere seeing a high rise in suicides in May and June while the southern hemisphere witnesses a similar rise in November and early December. While no one has a complete explanation for this phenomenon, the leading theory is that the increase is caused by the effects of sunlight on people's hormones. This is something that is being investigated further. The positive seasonal changes which brighten up most people's moods after a long winter may work against those who come out of a severe depression. It is ironic that the partial remission experienced by most sufferers of depression at the end of winter often provides the energy boost required to carry out a suicide. This is evident from the research undertaken in this area.

Paradoxically, the sunlight effect on the "feel-good" chemical serotonin may make people more aggressive. This aggression in depressed people may be turned against themselves. Research in Canada links seasonal changes in bright sunlight to the most violent suicides. Senator Browne referred to the number of car accidents with single occupants. A study is also being carried out on that issue and I understand the Senator dealt with it in greater detail. A well-known British psychiatrist has stated: "Spring is a time for new beginnings and new life, yet the contrast between a literally blooming world and the barren inner life of the clinically depressed is often too much for them to bear".

The entire area of mental health can be a minefield. Families find it impossible to find services for loved ones with a mental health problem. Often, the burden falls almost solely on the family. For many, suicide is the ultimate revenge, leaving the bereaved without a right to reply. This is a dreadful problem for families of suicide victims and parents in particular, who must live with it for the rest of their lives. This can have long-term effects on the victim's family and the community in which he or she lived.

While many schools throughout the country do an excellent job of educating their pupils about suicide and mental health, the Department of Education and Science must become actively involved in the education of all young people concerning these issues. We have young people who drop out of school early and we cannot depend on the schools to help them. We must examine other ways and means of helping and getting the information to such individuals.

All Members have seen the effects of suicide in their own constituencies. As politicians, we attend many funerals. Personally, I attend approximately five to six funerals in a week. I can remember the funerals of suicide victims because of the quietness and stillness around the place. No one knows what to say or how to say it when visiting a home, morgue or church. The effects stay with us for longer than for most tragedies.

We have seen the devastation, anger and despair of those left behind. We all suffer for the bereavement, but that suffering must be translated into action. I have spoken of ways and means of overcoming the problem. The Minister of State has referred to some of them in his speech. A national support service must be put in place and funds made available to the voluntary organisations. Although suicide and mental health are no longer taboo subjects in Ireland, there appears to be a puzzling reluctance to spend money on preventative measures. Essentially, increased spending and facilities must be provided by the Departments of Health and Children, Education and Science and other Departments which must become involved. We associate the problem with the Department of Health and Children, but additional community services should also be provided.

In some parts of rural Ireland there has been a major lack of spending as far as facilities for young people is concerned. For example, in Longford, we have waited for a new swimming pool facility for seven or eight years, as well as for other services in the town. It would help if such facilities and outlets existed for young people to help, support and entertain themselves, rather than suffering from depression.