Rural group calls for major research into suicide in rural areas
Irish Rural Link, the national lobby group for Irish rural development, has called for major research to be carried out on suicide in rural areas.
Irish Rural Link will be holding a half day seminar on this subject at its offices in Moate on Monday next, June 17.
The seminar comes at a time when coroners in South Kerry and Westmeath have recently made statements alerting society to what is an ever increasing phenomenon.
It also comes against a backdrop of the fodder crisis, which caused a huge increase in the number of farmers who admitted that they were under mental stress.
Irish Rural Link Chief Executive Seamus Boland, said that this is such a sensitive issue to deal with but it has been a hidden tragedy in rural areas for so long.
Despite the fact that we are in the 21st century, suicide still has a major stigma attached to it and this can be felt by the families and friends from small towns and villages who have lost loved ones to suicide, according to Mr Boland
'Not only do we need to look at what are the causes of suicide and how to tackle the high suicide rate in Ireland, but we also need to ensure that we look at specific factors that are unique to rural Ireland, ” Mr Boland said.
“The role that a feeling of isolation can play in a person’s life can not be under estimated and although people in major urban centres can also have feelings of isolation, it is a particular for people living in rural areas, especially remote rural areas.”
The number of suicides registered in Ireland rose to 525 in 2011, an increase of 7 per cent on the previous year, according to data from the Central Statistics Office.
A total of 439 men and 86 women were recorded as having taken their own lives, the majority of whom were aged 15-44.
Seminar details
Seminar on Rural Isolation, Depression & Suicide
With
Josephine Rigney, HSE Suicide Prevention Unit
Cindy O’Connor, Pieta House
John Evoy, Mens Sheds
Maria Whyte, Console
Seamus Boland, IRL
Monday 17th June
To explore the causes of suicide and how to tackle the high suicide rate in Ireland, and look at specific factors that are unique to rural Ireland.
Seminar starts at 10.30am, and continues until 12pm
IRL Head office, Moate Business Park, Clara Road, Moate, Co. Westmeath
Tel. 090 6482744: Email: maria@irishrurallink.ie