Hundreds of young men committed suicide in 2003

Suicide is the main cause of death among young men in Ireland according to official statistics.

A report on births marriages and deaths released by the Central Statistics Office shows there were 116 suicides in only the third quarter of 2003, or 12 per 100,000 population.

In a separate report, new figures show that some 8,500 people attended hospital accident and emergency departments in 2002 with injuries they suffered when trying to kill themselves.

Thirty percent of deaths in the 15-24 age group and 23 percent of all deaths in the 25-34 age group are due to suicide, making it the largest cause of death in these age groups. Men are more than three times more likely to commit suicide than women, the figures show. Women, however, are treated more often for attempted suicide than men.

One in five of those who fail in their suicide attempts are hospitalised again due to repeat acts of harming themselves.

Among those attending were children as young as five, according to the latest annual report from the National Parasuicide Registry. It is to be published next month.

A further 201 children aged between 10 and 14 were also treated for attempted suicide, the report adds.

Overdosing on drugs was the most common method chosen. Minor tranquillisers were the drugs most often used.

Referring to the fact that one in five of the A&E attendances was by a person who had repeated a suicide attempt, the report said: ``Repeated acts of self-harm represent a significant problem. The development and delivery of interventions for this difficult to reach patient group must be prioritised.''

According to the CSO report, the birth rate of 16 births per head of population is the highest for the 26 Counties in ten years. Over one third of babies are now born outside marriage.

Urgent Appeal