Official Suicide Rate 'Not True Figure' Says Opposition

The latest report from the National Office for Suicide Prevention says the suicide rate is a levelling off in Ireland.

The report, which coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day, is also being marked with a number of events around the country.

However, opposition party members have criticised the report saying it does not reveal the true level of suicide in Ireland.

According to the data, suicide rates have increased steadily from the late 1990s, peaking in 1998.

The government office puts the number of suicide deaths for Ireland for 2007 at 460 while the full figures for 2005 are 481, varying each year since 2001.

But Fine Gael Mental Health Spokesman, who is also President of the Irish Association of Suicidolgy, Dan Neville TD has said "the true figure is nearer 600", and advocated establishing suicide prevention programme to reduce levels of suicide in Ireland.

"Surveys show that 15% of people have a family member who died by suicide. Three out of four people know somebody who died by suicide and the person was most likely to be a friend or a neighbour. One in five of those who knew someone who took their own life said that it was a family member," he said.

Mr Neville added: "Government's failure to address the problem is outrageous when one considers that in excess of 11,000 people present at Accident and Emergency having self harmed and it is conservatively estimated that in excess of 60,000 self-harm each hear.

"Surveys show that just 40% of those surveyed report being aware of a suicide attempt, further highlighting the need for prevention programmes."

(DW/JM)