The Government was today urged to put extra money and resources into suicide prevention during the recession.
Fine Gael said more had to be done to respond to the psychological, psychiatric and emotional difficulties people face with unemployment, financial difficulties and the threat of losing their homes.
Dan Neville, the party spokesperson on mental health, said research shows suicide and mental illness increase during economic downturns.
“The potential psychological impact of economic recession on public health is severe,” said Mr Neville.
“Job loss, job insecurity, job uncertainty, economic strain, loss of income, home repossession and restricted access to credit lead to a reduction in mental well-being, an increase in mental health problems and mental ill health, increased substance misuse, especially alcohol and drugs, and intimate relationship breakdown and divorce.”
Mr Neville said being out of work can influence depression and suicidal thinking, with job insecurity associated with anxiety and depression.
“People who are unemployed are two to three times more likely to die of suicide than those in employment,” he added.
“This high rate is partly because people with psychiatric illness are at a greater risk of losing their jobs.
“However, even among people with no record of serious mental illness, unemployment is associated with a 70 per cent greater suicide risk.”
The TD, who is president of the Irish Association of Suicidology, urged Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan to address the need for the State to respond to this problem.
“A little over three million euro has been given to the National Office for Suicide Prevention,” said Mr Neville.
“I put it to the Minister that a modest €10 million euro to meet this crisis is not too much to ask.”
PA