2. National Suicide Research Foundation
Goal
To produce a nationally and internationally recognised body
of reliable knowledge from a multidisciplinary perspective on
the risk and protective factors associated with suicidal
behaviour.
Research focus
Extent of the problem of deliberate self harm and suicide as
well as risk and protective factors
Effectiveness of intervention and prevention programmes
for deliberate self harm and suicide
3. What is suicidal behaviour?
Suicide
Suicide attempts
Deliberate self harm
–Hospital/medically-treated
–Untreated
Suicidal ideation/thoughts/plans
4. Suicidal behaviour:
an ‘iceberg phenomenon’
Level 1
Suicide
Level 2
Level 3
Deliberate self
harm
medically treated
‘Hidden’ cases of
deliberate self harm and
suicidal thoughts
World Health
Organization and Irish
Central Statistics Office
Suicide Data
Surveillance studies
and registries
Community and
school-based
studies
5. The burden of suicidal behaviour
An estimated one million people die by suicide annually
worldwide
10-20 million people attempt suicide annually worldwide
Suicide accounts for ~1.5% of all deaths and is the 10th
leading cause of death worldwide
Suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15-34 yearold Europeans
Among 15-44 year-olds worldwide, self-inflicted injuries is the
sixth leading cause of disability-adjusted life years
8. Recording of suicide in Ireland
Coroner notified of death by gardai
Post mortem and inquest
Coroner notifies registrar of death after the inquest
Registrar then registers death and notifies the Central Statistics Office
(CSO)
CSO send confidential form to relevant garda sub-district
Garda provides opinion as to the cause of death and returns form to CSO
–
–
–
–
Suicidal
Homicidal
Accidental
Undetermined
10. Suicide compared to transport accident
deaths in Ireland
800
Suicide+UD
Suicide
Transport accidents
Number of deaths
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
11. Is suicide a major cause of death in
Ireland?
Suicide accounted for 527 (1.8%) of the 28,898 deaths that
were registered in 2009.
5,243
18%
527, 2%
Circulatory system
9,693
34%
1,156 4%
Neoplasms
Respiratory system
Digestive system
3,694
13%
Suicide
Other
8,585
30%
12. Is suicide a major cause of death
among young adults in Ireland?
Suicide accounted for 229 (25%) of the 923 deaths of 15-34
year-olds that were registered in 2009.
23%
6%
10%
1%
2%
8%
13%
25%
13%
Circulatory system
Malignant neoplasms
Respiratory system
Digestive system
Suicide
Transport accidents
Accidental poisoning
Undetermined intent
Other
13. 0
Based on WHO data accessed on 31 March 2011. Data are for 2004-2008 except for Belgium (1999).
Greece
Italy
Malta
UK
Spain
Netherlands
Ireland
Luxembourg
Romania
Portugal
Denmark
Germany
Slovakia
Bulgaria
Sweden
Czech Republic
Austria
Poland
France
Estonia
Belgium
Finland
Latvia
Slovenia
Hungary
Lithuania
Rate per 100,000
Suicide in Ireland and in other EU
countries
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
14. 0
Based on WHO data accessed on 31 March 2011. Data are for 2004-2008 except for Belgium (1999).
Greece
Italy
Malta
Portugal
Spain
UK
Netherlands
Bulgaria
Romania
Denmark
Germany
France
Hungary
Slovakia
Austria
Czech Republic
Slovenia
Latvia
Sweden
Poland
Belgium
Luxembourg
Ireland
Estonia
Finland
Lithuania
Rate per 100,000
35
Suicide rate of 15-24 year-olds in
Ireland and in other EU countries
30
25
20
15
10
5
17. Method of suicide in Ireland
by gender
100%
80%
6%
7%
5%
1%
9%
20%
12%
Other
24%
60%
Firearms
Poisoning
Drowning
Hanging
40%
66%
50%
20%
0%
Men
Women
Based on 2004-2008 data
18. Method of suicide in Ireland
by gender and age
100%
80%
5%
5%
7%
7%
7%
6%
5%
4%
2%
12%
13%
11%
8%
14%
60%
40%
5%
1%
7%
1%
26%
20%
12%
Other
22%
25%
76%
61%
40%
Firearms
Poisoning
Drowning
Hanging
68%
53%
43%
20%
32%
0%
Men
<30yrs
Men
30-54yrs
Men
55yrs+
Women
<30yrs
Women
30-54yrs
Women
55yrs+
Based on 2004-2008 data
19. Monthly variation in suicide, 2006-2008
150
Expected
125
Number of suicide deaths
Observed
100
75
50
25
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
20. Monthly variation in suicide, 2006-2008
25
20
% difference from expected
15
10
5
0
Jan
-5
-10
-15
-20
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
21. Suicide in Ireland
by day of death
20
% of deaths
15
10
5
0
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Based on 2005-2006 data
22. Location of suicide deaths in Ireland
At or near home
River/waterway
At sea
Institution
Farm/agri area
Other persons
residence
Road/roadside
Work site
Other
Based on 2002 data
23. Suicide by county/city, 2004-2010
19
Cork City
17
17
16
16
Leitrim
Cavan
Carlow
Tipperary North
14
14
14
13
13
13
12
12
12
12
12
12
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
10
10
10
9
9
W aterford County
W exford
Example of volatile rates:
Offaly
Cork County
W estmeath
Carlow 2007: 22 per 100,000
Clare
Tipperary South
Limerick City
Carlow 2008: 11 per 100,000
M
ayo
Roscommon
Galway county, 8 deaths in 2004
Galway County
Kerry
W aterford City
Galway county, 25 deaths in 2005
M
onaghan
M
eath
W icklow
Longford
Limerick County
Kildare
Louth
Laois
Dublin City
Donegal
Sligo
Kilkenny
South Dublin
Galway City
7
7
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown
Fingal
0
5
10
Crude rate per 100,000
15
20
24. Suicide in Ireland
by marital status and gender
70
Rate per 100,000
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Single
Married Widowed Separated Single
Men
Married Widowed Separated
Women
Based on 2002 data
25. Suicide in Ireland
by domestic situation and gender
70
Rate per 100,000
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Alone
With
parent(s)
Men
With partner
Alone
With
parent(s)
Women
With partner
Based on 2002 data
26. Suicide in Ireland
by employment status and gender
90
80
Rate per 100,000
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Unemployed
Employed
Men
Unemployed
Employed
Home duties
Women
Based on 2002 data
