Mary White (Fianna Fail)

Last week the CSO revealed figures indicating that 106 people had died by suicide between January and March. This is the equivalent of one person killing himself or herself each day between January and March. These are frightening figures and it was dangerous for the CSO to release them without consulting the relevant scientific organisations dealing with the issue of suicide. Because they were based on year of registration following completion of the inquest, there may be a certain number of suicides that occurred in 2008 and are included in the year of registration figures. Therefore, we must be careful in drawing final conclusions. However, from other sources such as the National Registry of Deliberate Self-Harm, we know that in 2008 there was a strong increase in the number of self-harm cases presenting at accident and emergency departments. In addition, in 2008 the strongest increase in the incidence of self-harm occurred among young men in the 20 to 39 year age group. It is likely this increase is related to the economic downturn which happened very quickly in 2008. Particularly among men, there is a strong link between self-harm and suicide. The increase in the incidence of self-harm among young men in 2008 may be followed by an increase in the number of suicides. If we admit that these are the tragic consequences of the recession in Ireland, we must realise that suicide prevention is the last area in which we should be making further cuts.